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Grunt work

Men's Fitness, May, 2004

There's a guy at my gym who grunts like mad whenever he picks up a weight. He sounds ridiculous, but could all that noise actually be helping him?

--L.S., Houston, TX

No one likes being around a grunter. But whether those annoying grunts and groans can help improve your workout is another matter.

"Scientifically, there may be some validity to the occasional grunt" says Ken Kinakin, a certified strength-and-conditioning specialist and powerlifting expert with a private practice in Canada.

According to Kinakin, grunting allows lifters to breathe out while pressing a weight upward. This decreases something called the Valsalva effect--a fancy name for the pressure that builds up inside your body when you hold your breath.

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"The Valsalva can sometimes be harmful because it increases the chances that you'll herniate a disc in your back," Kinakin says. Grunting also helps some men sharpen their mental focus, allowing them to generate more power during a difficult lift.

So next time, instead of glaring at the grunter while he lifts, you may want to join in.

Grunt work

Men's Fitness, May, 2004

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