Effects of post-activation potentiation exercises on kicking frequency, fatigue rate and jump performance in taekwondo athletes: a case study (Efectos de los ejercicios de potenciación post activación sobre la frecuencia de pateo, tasa de fatiga y saltabi

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to establish the effects of three conditions of post-activation potentiation (PAP) exercises on kicking frequency, fatigue rate (FR) and jump performance in novice and advanced taekwondo athletes. Secondarily, to establish if the PAP strength plus plyometrics exercises produced a significantly higher increase with respect to exercises of isolated strength and plyometrics. Eight university taekwondo athletes (n=4 novices and n=4 advanced) were randomized into four (one control and three experimental) intervention conditions. Kicking frequency and FR were evaluated with the Frequency Speed of Kicks Test (FSKT), and countermovement jump test (CMJ). Effect size (ES) was calculated and the significance level was stabilized at p<0.05. Advanced taekwondo athletes obtained significantly higher results when compared to novices in the control condition for the fifth FSKT-10s (p=0.019; ES=2.382); in the strength condition for the second FSKT-10s 2 (p=0.028; ES=2.590); and in the strength plus plyometrics condition for the first FSKT-10s (p=0.037; ES=1.805) and third FSKT-10s (p=0.027; ES=2.117). Furthermore, the control condition showed a difference when compared to strength plus plyometrics: on the first (p=0.040; ES=0.552) and second FSKT-10s (p=0.032; ES=0.687), respectively. The FR and CMJ did not significantly differ between the athletes nor between the intervention conditions. In conclusion, the PAP exercises did not improve kick frequency, FR and jump performance in the taekwondo athletes evaluated. However, these exercises did not produce adverse effects in the FR; thus, they could be used in taekwondo athletes with previous strength training.Resumen. El objetivo del presente estudio fue establecer los efectos de tres condiciones de ejercicios de potenciación post-activación (PAP) sobre la frecuencia de pateo, tasa de fatiga (TF) y saltabilidad en atletas de taekwondo novatos y avanzados. Secundariamente, establecer si los ejercicios de PAP de fuerza más pliometría producen un aumento significativamente mayor respecto a los ejercicios de fuerza y pliometría aislados. Ocho atletas universitarios de taekwondo (n=4 novatos y n=4 avanzados) fueron asignados aleatoriamente a cuatro condiciones de intervención (una control y tres experimentales). La frecuencia de pateo y TF se evaluaron con el Frequency Speed of Kicks Test (FSKT) y la saltabilidad con el salto contramovimiento (CMJ). Se calculó el tamaño del efecto (TE) y se estableció un nivel de significancia de p<0,05. Los atletas de taekwondo avanzados obtuvieron resultados significativamente mayores en comparación con los novatos en la condición control para el quinto FSKT-10 (p= 0,019; TE=2,382); en la condición de fuerza para el segundo FSKT-10s 2 (p=0,028; TE=2,590); y en la condición de fuerza más pliometría para el primer FSKT-10 (p=0,037; TE=1,805) y el tercer FSKT-10 (p=0,027; TE=2,117). Además, la condición control mostró diferencias al compararla con la condición de fuerza más pliometría en el primer (p=0,040; TE=0,552) y segundo FSKT-10s (p=0,032; TE=0,687), respectivamente. La TF y CMJ no presentaron diferencias significativas entre los atletas ni entre las condiciones de intervención. En conclusión, los ejercicios de PAP no mejoran la frecuencia de pateo, TF y saltabilidad en los atletas de taekwondo evaluados. Sin embargo, estos ejercicios no produjeron efectos adversos en la TF, lo que podría favorecer su uso con entrenamiento previo en fuerza.

Acute Effects of Low Dose of Caffeine Ingestion Combined with Conditioning Activity on Psychological and Physical Performances of Male and Female Taekwondo Athletes

“…In the present study, the decrease in fatigue rate indicated by the DI could confirm the effectiveness of the plyometric CA on taekwondo-specific performance. This result was not in accordance with those previously reported in taekwondo athletes [ 26 , 43 ]. The discrepancy could be related to the difference in the methodological approaches (i.e., the CA mode and the jump height used in each trial).…”

“…However, da Silva Santos et al [ 27 ] did not report improvement in kicking performance during the FSKT-10s following three sets of ten vertical jumps above 40 cm barrier even when 10 min of rest was given. In addition, Castro-Garrido et al [ 26 ] did not find significant differences in the total number of kicks during the FSKT-mult 10 min after performing three sets of ten jumps above 20 cm. This contradiction could be related to the difference in the methodological approaches from one side and to the inter-individual variation from the other side.…”

“…This was reasonable as plyometric exercises may cause less fatigue than traditional resistance exercise, allowing stronger enhancement effects and shorter time to achieve it [ 22 ]. In combat sports, there were contradictory results, with some studies revealing performance enhancement following plyometric CA [ 23 , 24 , 25 ], whereas others did not [ 26 , 27 ].…”

Effects of taekwondo on health in older people: a systematic review

“…Taekwondo is a combat sport practised in most countries worldwide with approximately 120 million children and adults around the world. The word taekwondo means "path of the feet and hands", which characterises this modality as a full-contact free-sparring sport that uses punching and kicking movements (Wazir et al, 2019;Castro-Garrido et al, 2020).…”

Surface electromyography in ballistic movement: a comparative methodological analysis from taekwondo athletes (Electromiografía de superficie en movimientos balísticos: un análisis metodológico comparativo en atletas de taekwondo)

“…Therefore, assessing sEMG in combat sports should provide exceptional care in areas such as artifacts movement and signal processing. In this sense, the taekwondo Roundhouse kick is a blow that is very representative of the speed, strength and power required in combat sports (Castro-Gatrido et al, 2020). In turn, it would be interesting to analyze whether the different processing methods used to calculate the peak EMG generate changes in the result.…”