Effects of Pre-Activation with Variable Intra-Repetition Resistance on Throwing Velocity in Female Handball Players: A Methodological Proposal

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of pre-activation with Variable Intra-Repetition Resistance and isometry on the overhead throwing velocity in handball players. Fourteen female handball players took part in the study (age: 21.2 ± 2.7 years, experience: 10.9 ± 3.5 years). For Post-Activation Potentiation, two pre-activation methods were used: (I) Variable Intra-Repetition Resistance: 1 x 5 maximum repetitions at an initial velocity of 0.6 m·s-1 and a final velocity of 0.9 m·s-1; (II) Isometry: 1 x 5 s of maximum voluntary isometric contraction. Both methods were "standing unilateral bench presses" with the dominant arm, using a functional electromechanical dynamometer. The variable analysed was the mean of the three overhead throws. Ball velocity was measured with a radar (Stalker ATS). The statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with repeated measures. No significant differences were found for either method (variable resistance intra-repetition: p = 0.194, isometry: p = 0.596). Regarding the individual responses, the analysis showed that 86% of the sample increased throwing velocity with the variable resistance intra-repetition method, while 93% of the sample increased throwing velocity with the isometric method. Both the variable intra-repetition resistance and isometric methods show improvements in ball velocity in female handball players. However, the authors recommend checking individual responses, since the results obtained were influenced by the short rest interval between the pre-activation and the experimental sets.

Upper-Body Post-activation Performance Enhancement for Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Recommendations for Future Research

“…In contrast, an ~ 2.8%; ES = 0.14 improvement in power output in the BBT was found following 1 repetition of isometric bench press of a 7-s duration [ 35 ]. A standing isometric chest press variation did not elicit PAPE in experienced handball players [ 46 ], observed as no improvements in overhead handball throwing velocity.…”

“…It could, therefore, also be plausible that the single measurement at 4 min [ 55 ] may not have been sufficient recovery to reduce fatigue from the multiple repetitions of 90%1RM bench press. The same limitations applied to a study by Martinez-Garcia et al [ 46 ], who found no significant improvements in overhead handball throwing velocity following a standing chest press with variable resistance, with even shorter initial recovery durations. Markovic et al [ 33 ] also found bench press produced non-significant differences in throwing performance 3 min following the conditioning activity, where the medicine ball load (0.55-kg) was similar to that of a handball.…”

Antagonist activation exercises elicit similar post-activation performance enhancement as agonist activities on throwing performance

“…Therefore, the softball players and other overhead athletes are using advanced training methods like post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) in long-term training programs. PAPE is an efficient method for an acute increase in explosive strength [ 2 – 6 ], which requires a precise selection of conditioning activity (CA) [ 7 , 8 ]. Although PAPE is based on post-activation potential which increases the sensitivity of actomyosin filaments to Ca 2+ , enhances recruitment of higher-order motor units, and changes in pennation angle [ 9 , 10 ], the exercise selection is one of the key factors to modulate the magnitude of PAPE [ 11 ].…”

“…Female athletes exhibit different muscle activity during bench press exercises than men [ 29 ], and therefore same conditioning might bring different results. It has been shown that 86% of women handball players are PAPE responders in throwing velocity to variable resistance intra-repetition method, and 93% of them positively respond to isometric CA [ 6 ]. In the exercise selection studies, the bench press (BP) CA increased throw distance in women's shot put [ 26 ], and maximal rowing exercise increased rowing speed [ 30 ] with the same PAPE effect for males and females rowers.…”

Effects of Variable Resistance Training within Complex Training on Neuromuscular Adaptations in Collegiate Basketball Players

“…A number of potential mechanisms included, but is not limited to, increased phosphorylation of the myosin light chain, increases in muscle temperature, increases in muscle blood flow/water content and increased muscle activation ( Blazevich and Babault, 2019 ). In practical settings, strength and conditioning practitioners commonly prescribe complex training by manipulating PAPE mechanisms to further improve power performance (e.g., a set of back squats followed by a set of plyometrics) ( Cormier et al, 2020 ; Martínez-García et al, 2021 ; Pagaduan and Pojskic, 2020 ). Therefore, it is conceivable that utilizing VRT within a complex training program might be more effective in enhancing power adaptation.…”