Effect of Post-Activation Potentiation on Sprint Performance after Combined Electromyostimulation and Back Squats

Abstract

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is a phenomenon which can improve force performance executed after a previous conditioning activity. PAP is usually evoked through heavy resistance, but many new methods are being suggested that acutely improve performance in post-activation potentiation protocols. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of simultaneous application of Smith machine back squats (BS) with electromyostimulation (EMS) on sprint performance. Sixteen male (age = 22.9 ± 2.3 years, body mass = 79.9 ± 13.8 kg, BS one-repetition maximum (1 RM) = 120.5 ± 17.3) amateur football and rugby players volunteered for this study. Participants randomly performed PAP protocols (CON = no load, BS = 3 × 85% of 1 RM BS, EMS = 3 × weightless squat with electric current and BS + EMS = 3 × 85% 1 RM BS with electric current) on four different days with at least 48 h intervals. Participants rested passively for 7 min after preloads and performed the 30 m sprint test. Sprint times for 10 and 30 m were recorded for each condition. As a result, no significant difference was found in the 10 m (p = 0.13) and 30 m (p = 0.10) sprint performance between the preload protocols. The effect size was found to be trivial (ηp2: 0.13 for 10 m; ηp2: 0.11 for 30 m). In individual results, the 10 m sprint performance of five participants and 30 m sprint performance of two participants decreased in BS, EMS, or BS + EMS conditions compared with CON. No PAP effect in other participants was observed. In conclusion, preloads did not affect 10 m and 30 m sprint performance of football and rugby players. It can be said that the applied PAP protocols or physical exertion alone may cause fatigue in some individuals.

The Effect of PAP Produced by Back Squats with Different Squat Methods on the Ability of Squat Jump

“…PAP is most effectively induced by precontraction stimulation using higher load intensities, typically in the range of 80-95% of 1 RM [10,11]. Currently, commonly used loading methods include resistance training, maximal voluntary isometric contractions, electromyostimulation, and blood ow restriction training, among others [12][13][14][15]. Adequate stimulation is required to induce PAP.…”

“…After stimulation, PAP effects varied among participants and showed large individual differences [17][18][19][20][21]. Current research suggests that an increase in subjects' explosive power via post-activation potentiation is more credible, with jumps and short sprints being the most commonly used forms of movement following contraction stimulation in the available experimental studies [10,13,18,20,[22][23][24][25][26][27]; furthermore, there have been studies that applied stimulation to the upper extremities, which also yielded favorable results [28,29]. Not all participants are able to improve their athletic performance through post-activation potentiation (PAP).…”

Motoric performance variation from morning to evening: 80% intensity post-activation potentiation protocol impacts performance and its diurnal amplitude in basketball players

“…In a study examining the effects of Electro-myostimulation (EMS) as a PAP protocol on sports performance. Sari et al (2022) aimed to create a more significant PAP effect with more intense contractions with the application of EMS to amateur soccer players and rugby players. The study found no significant difference in the participants’ 10 and 30 m sprint performances ( Sari et al, 2022 ).…”

“… Sari et al (2022) aimed to create a more significant PAP effect with more intense contractions with the application of EMS to amateur soccer players and rugby players. The study found no significant difference in the participants’ 10 and 30 m sprint performances ( Sari et al, 2022 ). In addition, it was stated that PAP responses were related to the activated muscle fiber type ( Wilson et al, 2013 ).…”