Researchers said swearing and bad language make us stronger. They did tests on 81 people to see how swearing affected physical strength. In one test, participants worked out on an exercise bike. Some people swore as much as they could, while others were quiet. In another test, people gripped the bike's handlebars as tightly as they could. The researchers said those who swore cycled or gripped up to four per cent more powerfully than those who were quiet.
Research also shows that swearing increases our tolerance to pain. Swearing increases our heart rate and adrenaline. These help to numb pain. This may be why many of us swear when we feel pain. Another study found that swearing was a sign of honesty. A researcher from Keele said: "Quite why it is that swearing has these effects on strength and pain tolerance remains to be discovered. We have yet to understand the power of swearing fully."