The post-activation potentiation effect on squat jump performance: age and sex effect.
This study examined the post-activation potentiation (PAP) effects on squat jump (SJ) performance and on peak rate of force development (RFDpeak) in preadolescent (10-12 y), adolescents (14-15 y) and adults (20-25 y) males and females. All participants performed a SJ with and without prior conditioning stimulus (PAP and control protocol, respectively), consisting of 3 × 3-second maximal isometric squats. Jump height and RFDpeak of the vertical ground reaction force during SJ were assessed before, and at 20 seconds and at 4 minutes following the conditioning stimulus. The results revealed a different pattern of age-effect on SJ performance within males and females. The RFDpeak significantly increased as a factor of age in both males and females (P < .05). Increase in SJ performance after conditioning stimulus occurred only in men (P < .05), with no effects in teen-males, boys, and female groups. There was a significant PAP effect on RFDpeak in both adult groups (P < .05) and teen-males, with no effects in children. In conclusion, the PAP effects on SJ performance and RFDpeak are age- and sex-dependent; that is PAP appears as a viable method for acutely enhancing SJ performance in men but not in pediatric population.
Dept. of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Fotini
F
Arabatzi
Dimitrios
D
Patikas
Andreas
A
Zafeiridis
Konstantinos
K
Giavroudis
Theodoros
T
Kannas
Vassilios
V
Gourgoulis
Christos M
CM
Kotzamanidis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult