Oxford rowers help researchers figure out the secret of success of group exercise: Twelve rowers pain threshold was higher after the group training, as opposed to the individual.

Conclusion of the scientists of the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford University was exercise in a group can help break through the pain. In this case, the secretion of endorphins is similar to the one that occurs during activities such as religious ceremonies, or dance.

Each of the 12 rowers was examined four times: paddled for 45 minutes on the ergometer. They were divided into two groups by six rowers, while the remaining two training sessions they exercised by themselves, without the presence of colleagues. After every workout they measured the pain threshold with a simple test. The researchers measured how much time the rowers could submit inflated pressure gauge on their hands.

The study has shown great progress in increasing the limits of pain after both types of training, as expected, but the increase was substantially higher after the training group.

Since synchronization is the key to successful competition. results suggest that the synchronized group activity is responsible for increasing the excretion of large amounts of endorphins during strong effort. According to the survey, endorphins help create a sense of intimacy and have positive effects, which could emphasize the warmth and feeling of closeness that comes during activities such as dances, religious ceremonies, or sports.