The Effects of Post-Activation Potentiation in Conjunction with Blood Flow Restriction on Sprint Performance

Abstract

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training is a process by which external pressure is applied over the proximal portion of an extremity to maintain arterial inflow while occluding venous outflow. Post-Activation Potentiation (PAP) is the phenomenon by which muscular performance may be enhanced as a result of previously completed muscular contractions. Independently, PAP and BFR have been studied, but the two have yet to be combined in reference to sprint performance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if a combination of BFR and PAP of the lower extremities will improve 36.6 meter sprint performance (S) in college-aged adults. METHODS: 26 subjects (22.8 ± 1.8 yr, 1.73 ± 0.10 m, body mass 76.6 ± 16.6 kg, 15 ♂) were familiarized with the sprint activity, BFR and PAP techniques, and had their lower extremity blood pressure (BP) assessed. Following the familiarization trial, subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental (BFR) or control (C) trial in a cross-over design. Trials were preceded by a five minute warm-up of treadmill walking at 80.4 m/min (1% grade). In the BFR trial, a thigh BP cuff was applied to each leg and inflated to 10 mmHg below resting systolic BP. With the cuffs remaining on the legs, subjects completed 5 maximal effort vertical jumps (VJ). BP cuffs were immediately removed and the subject rested for 8 minutes prior to S. S time was obtained with a stopwatch. Identical procedures were conducted for the C trial with the exception of BFR prior to the VJ. On separate days, the same subjects performed a reliability trial of each condition in order to ensure intra-rater reliability. There were less than 72 hours among the familiarization, reliability, experimental, and control trials. RESULTS: Statistical analysis by paired T-test revealed a significant difference (p<.05) between sprint times, when comparing each subject’s control and BFR trials (p=.033). There was also a high within-subject correlation between the two performances of each trial (BFR: 0.954, control: 0.937). CONCLUSION: An acute intervention that combines BFR and PAP of the lower extremities improved sprint performance in college-aged adults. An 8 minute hiatus between the BFR/PAP and the performance supports the practical application to some sport activities, such as track and field.