Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is a well-described phenomenon with a short half-life (~28 s) that enhances muscle force production at submaximal levels of calcium saturation (i.e., submaximal levels of muscle activation). It has been largely explained by an increased myosin light chain phosphorylation occurring in type II muscle fibers, and its effects have been quantified in humans by measuring muscle twitch force responses to a bout of muscular activity. However, enhancements in (sometimes maximal) voluntary force production detected several minutes after high-intensity muscle contractions are also observed, which are also most prominent in muscles with a high proportion of type II fibers. This effect has been considered to reflect PAP. Nonetheless, the time course of myosin light chain phosphorylation (underpinning “classic” PAP) rarely matches that of voluntary force enhancement and, unlike PAP, changes in muscle temperature, muscle/cellular water content, and muscle activation may at least partly underpin voluntary force enhancement; this enhancement has thus recently been called post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) to distinguish it from “classical” PAP. In fact, since PAPE is often undetectable at time points where PAP is maximal (or substantial), some researchers have questioned whether PAP contributes to PAPE under most conditions in vivo in humans. Equally, minimal evidence has been presented that PAP is of significant practical importance in cases where multiple physiological processes have already been upregulated by a preceding, comprehensive, active muscle warm-up. Given that confusion exists with respect to the mechanisms leading to acute enhancement of both electrically evoked (twitch force; PAP) and voluntary (PAPE) muscle function in humans after acute muscle activity, the first purpose of the present narrative review is to recount the history of PAP/PAPE research to locate definitions and determine whether they are the same phenomena. To further investigate the possibility of these phenomena being distinct as well as to better understand their potential functional benefits, possible mechanisms underpinning their effects will be examined in detail. Finally, research design issues will be addressed which might contribute to confusion relating to PAP/PAPE effects, before the contexts in which these phenomena may (or may not) benefit voluntary muscle function are considered.

Maximal and submaximal activation level of the right knee-extensor muscle group were studied during isometric and slow isokinetic muscular contractions in eight male subjects. The activation level was quantified by means of the twitch interpolation technique. A single electrical impulse was delivered, whatever the contraction mode, on the femoral nerve at a constant 50 degrees knee flexion (0 degrees = full extension). Concentric, eccentric (both at 20 degrees /s velocity), and isometric voluntary activation levels were then calculated. The mean activation levels during maximal eccentric and maximal concentric contractions were 88.3 and 89.7%, respectively, and were significantly lower (P < 0.05) with respect to maximal isometric contractions (95.2%). The relationship between voluntary activation levels and submaximal torques was linearly fitted (P < 0.01): comparison of slopes indicated lower activation levels during submaximal eccentric compared with isometric or concentric contractions. It is concluded that reduced neural drive is present during 20 degrees /s maximal concentric and both maximal and submaximal eccentric contractions. These results indicate a voluntary activation dependency on both tension levels and type of muscular actions in the human knee-extensor muscle group.

Neuromuscular fatigue of the knee extensor (KE) and plantar flexor (PF) muscles was characterized after a 65-km ultramarathon race in nine well-trained runners by stimulating the femoral and tibial nerves, respectively. One week before and immediately after the ultramarathon, maximal twitches were elicited from the relaxed KE and PF. Electrically evoked superimposed twitches of the KE were also elicited during maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) to determine maximal voluntary activation. MVC and maximal voluntary activation decreased significantly after the ultramarathon (-30.2 +/- 18.0% and -27.7 +/- 13.0%, respectively; P < 0.001). Surprisingly, peak twitch increased after the ultramarathon from 15.8 +/- 6.3 to 19.7 +/- 3.3 N. m for PF (P < 0.01) and from 131.9 +/- 21.2 to 157.1 +/- 35.9 N for KE (P < 0.05). Also, shorter contraction and half-relaxation times were observed for both muscles. The compound muscle action potentials (M wave) were not significantly altered by the ultramarathon with the exception of the soleus, which showed a slightly higher M-wave amplitude after the running. From these results, it can be concluded that 65 km of running 1) severely depressed the maximal voluntary force capacity mainly because of a decrease in maximal voluntary activation, 2) potentiated the twitch mechanical response, and 3) did not change significantly the M-wave characteristics.