Introduction: Although the placebo and nocebo effects of ergogenic aids areacknowledged as a significant factor for sports performance, little is known about the effects of different sports equipment. Therefore, we examined how athletes` belief about their sports equipment affected their skiing performance in a short time trial, together with their subjective experience of the performance. Method: In a randomized controlled trial with crossover design, 21 junior cross-country skiers completed a repeated straight 45 m indoor double poling protocol. All trials were performed on roller skis with the same roll resistance. For the baseline trial, the skis were marked with "medium roll resistance". For the experimental trials, the athletes were randomized into two groups and were given a set of new roller skis, marked as"low roll resistance" (placebo), and "high roll resistance" (nocebo). The time for each individual trial was measured with photocells, while post-experimental questionnaires examined the skiers subjective rating of the performance. Results: The mean speed was the same for the placebo and baseline trials. However, the mean speed for the nocebo trial was slower compared to the baseline trial (mean ±95 CI; -0.7% ± 0.4%, P < 0.002). The subjective experience of the roller skis used during the experimental trials was different to that of the baseline trial (placebo: P < 0.001; nocebo: P < 0.002).Conclusion: Our findings reveal that athletes` negative belief of their sports equipment influenced performance negatively. In sports such as cross-country skiing, where equipment is vital, it is advised that the negative psychological effects should be mitigated by downplaying the importance of equipment on overall performance.
© Copyright 2020 Veröffentlicht von Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.