title: Acute Effects of Loaded Half-Squat Jumps on Sprint Running Speed in Track and Field Athletes and Soccer Players.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine the acute responses to a jump squat protocol designed to induce postactivation potentiation on sprint running performance in experienced track and field athletes and soccer players. Twenty-five regional level athletes (12 track and field: ∼17 years; ∼177 cm; ∼73 kg and 13 soccer: ∼18 years; ∼175 cm; ∼72 kg) performed 2 test sessions assessing 40-m sprint running performance in a balanced, crossover design. Dual-beam light timing gates measured 0-20 and 20-40 m sprint times before and after either 9 minutes of sitting (control) or 2 sets of 6 repetition half-squat jump with the load eliciting maximum power (experimental) conditions. Sprint performance was significantly enhanced over both 0-20 m (3.09 ± 0.07 to 3.04 ± 0.08 seconds; Δ ∼1.5%; p ≤ 0.05) and 20-40 m (2.42 ± 0.09 to 2.39 ± 0.09 seconds; Δ ∼1%; p ≤ 0.05) in track and field athletes only. Also, the magnitude of enhanced sprint performance was related to baseline 0-20 m sprint performance (r = 0.44; p = 0.028; n = 25). It seems that using loaded half-squat jumps to enhance sprint performance could be used in training of high-level young athletes.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Track and Field, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia; 2Department of Physical Education and Sport, Constatine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovakia; and 3Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Marián
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanderka
authors.forename: Matúš
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krčmár
authors.forename: Katarína
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Longová
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D014142:Track and Field / Q000502:physiology*