The Influence of Strength Training Experience on Explosive Strength Potentiation

Abstract

Postactivation potentiation (PAP) refers to an acute strength increment as a result of muscle activation history. It has been suggested that PAP may be manipulated to enhance acute athletic performance. However, the effectiveness of PAP to performance enhancement has not been demonstrated consistently. It seems PAP is dependent of the subject's strength. PURPOSE: To verify if the effectiveness of PAP to increase vertical jump performance is dependent on subject's strength training experience. METHODS: Track and field athletes (TFA=10), recreational strength training (RST=7), and physically active subjects (FAS=10) performed one or three five seconds maximum voluntary isometric contractions (1MVIC 5s or 3MVIC 5s), in a leg-press machine as a conditioning activity to induce vertical jump potentiation. Dependent variables assessed were maximal height, average rate of force development and peak power produced during countermovement vertical jump (CMJ). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the dependent variables in response to the conditioning protocols (3MVIC, 1MVIC or control). These results were similar when assessed through the mean of three jumps (F=0,26; p=0,97) or through the best jump performance (F=0,51; p=0,84). CONCLUSIONS PAP is not dependent on subject's strength training experience.