title: The temporal profile of postactivation potentiation is related to strength level.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether stronger individuals are able to express postactivation potentiation (PAP) earlier than weaker individuals during a vertical squat jump test. Eighteen junior elite rugby league players were divided into strong (relative 1 repetition maximum [1RM] back squat ≥ 2 × body mass) and weak (relative 1RM back squat <2.0 × body mass) groups. Each subject performed squat jumps before, 15 seconds, 3, 6, 9, and 12 minutes after a conditioning activity (CA) that contained 1 set of 3 back squats performed at 90% of 1RM. A force plate, which sampled at 1000 Hz, was used to determine the power output and height for each squat jump. Stronger individuals expressed PAP between 3 and 12 minutes post-CA, whereas their weaker counterparts displayed potentiation between 6 and 12 minutes post-CA. Moreover, the stronger group exhibited a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher PAP response than the weaker group at all post-CA squat jump tests. The stronger group displayed the greatest potentiation at 6 minutes post-CA, whereas the weaker group displayed the greatest potentiation response at 9 minutes following the CA. Based on these results, stronger individuals appear to be able to express PAP earlier after a CA than weaker individuals. Additionally, stronger individuals express significantly greater postactivation responses than weaker individuals. From a practical standpoint, strength and conditioning coaches should consider the athletes' strength levels when constructing postactivation complexes (CA + performance activity) as strength will dictate the time frame required between the conditioning and the performance activity.
authors: 1French Rugby League Academy, Toulouse, France; 2Center for Exercise and Sport Science Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia; and 3Laboratory of Human Performance, Faculty of Sport, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.
authors: Laurent B
authors: LB
authors: Seitz
authors: Eduardo S
authors: ES
authors: de Villarreal
authors: G Gregory
authors: GG
authors: Haff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005080:Exercise Test; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult