The Effect of Ballistic Exercise as Pre-Activation for 100 m Sprints

Abstract

The benefits of warm-up in sports performance has received a special interest in the current literature. However, there is a large gap of knowledge about the tasks to be performed, specifically in the real competitive environment. The purpose of the study was to verify the acute effects of a warm-up including ballistic exercises in 100 m running performance. In addition, a second 100 m trial was assessed to better understand the warm-up effects in training and competition. Eleven men (25.4 ± 6.2 years of age, 1.76 ± 0.08 m of height, 78.2 ± 8.6 kg of body mass) were submitted to three different protocols, in a randomized order: no warm-up (NWU), typical warm-up (WU) and WU complemented with ballistic exercises (PAP). Biomechanical, physiological and psychophysiological variables were assessed. Differences were found between the three conditions assessed in the first 100 m sprint with 7.4% and 7.6% faster performances after the WU and PAP, compared to NWU. Stride length was higher in the second part of the 100 m after PAP compared with WU. These results highlight the positive effects of warm-up for sprinting performance. The inclusion of ballistic exercises, besides being used to improve sprint performance, can increase stride length in the final of the 100 m race.

High-Intensity Warm-Up Increases Anaerobic Energy Contribution during 100-m Sprint

“…The effect of an HIW on optimized glycolytic capacity may be more closely related to post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) than to post-activation potentiation (PAP). PAPE and PAP are warm-up strategies for activating fast-twitch muscle fibers using maximal or near-maximal muscle contraction prior to strenuous performance [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. The PAP shifts the force–velocity curve upward and to the right through increased calcium sensitivity at filaments and motor unit recruitments of fast-twitch fibers (an increased myosin light chain phosphorylation occurring in type II muscle fibers) [ 44 ].…”

Human thrust in aquatic environment: The effect of post-activation potentiation on flutter kick

“…The magnitude of these variations in kicking frequency might have led to trivial changes in the thrust-time integral. In the first of two 100 m dash trials, the stride frequency showed a larger effect size after PAP [49]. It has been reported that kicking frequency has an effect on metabolic response [50].…”

The Relationship between Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Jumps and Their Influence on Speed Abilities: Gender Consideration

“…Therefore, the DJ should have a stronger relationship to sprint speed over longer distances [59]. It is a well-known fact, that the musculoskeletal complex (the calcaneal tendon, m. gastrocnemius medialis, m. gastrocnemius lateralis and m. soleus), under conditions of higher velocity of the eccentric-concentric cycle, can store more kinetic energy in the form of elastic energy [60][61][62]. Part of the elastic energy is available for only 0.160-0.180 s, i.e., for the duration of the muscle fibers-actin/miosin crossbridges [60][61][62].…”