The expletive that pops out when you stub your toe or are heaving a particularly heavy piece of furniture may have a purpose after all.

Curiously, a bout of cussing can make you stronger and better able to endure pain, according to research presented this month to the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society by Dr Richard Stephens of Keele University.

The study, entitled: “Effect of swearing on strength and power performance,” required participants to perform the Wingate test (an intense, anaerobic bike ride) and an isometric handgrip test, while swearing, and again while saying a neutral word to describe a table, such as ‘round’.

Study co-author, Professor David Spierer, said swearing resulted in a 5 per cent increase in strength in those undertaking the Wingate test.

“While that might not seem a big deal, it’s significant in terms of performance,” he said. “If you’re in a race and you can generate five per cent more power than the person next to you, you’re probably going to beat that individual.”

Swearing was associated with an 8 per increase in strength in the isometric handgrip test.

“If we apply that to real life, think of a jar of pickles, or something you’re trying to open that’s really difficult. Having 8 per cent more power might actually open the jar,” he said.

The researchers presumed stimulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) was the mechanism behind the effect – in other words, the fight-or-flight response might ‘power us up’.

However, they found no difference in heart rate and other indicators of ANS stimulation in the swearing versus non-swearing conditions.

Speculating the mechanism of action might be psychological, Professor Spierer said cursing might function like a mantra.

“An individual who is cursing while doing an activity may become disinhibited from what they’re actually doing.”

Letting loose with your language could give you the boost you need at the gym. Photo: Getty

In the Wingate test, participants uttered the curse at three-second intervals (10 times in total). “In a way, it’s like a mindfulness through expletives,” he suggested.

“Along with this sort of disinhibition, there might be a reduced perception of pain,” Professor Spierer said.

Earlier research by Dr Stephens found cursing enabled participants to keep their hand in cold water longer than if they were using a neutral word like ‘table’.

However, when it comes to the benefits of bad language, it’s all about how, when and where you let loose.

“If you’re a soccer player in a game, cursing every three seconds is probably not going to help. However, if you’re running for the ball, or sprinting, or you need to edge someone out, then maybe that mantra does help.”

“The best way to get the benefit out of this would be to do it like a mantra with a purpose.”

However, when used as aggression, a derogatory term or excessively, swearing is negative, potentially bad for your health and upsetting to others.

“In that respect, I think it could be harmful. And, cursing to some people is taboo – we haven’t got over that hump.”