The effects of a postactivation potentiation warm-up on subsequent sprint performance

Abstract

Purpose. Many strength and conditioning professionals propose that postactivation potentiation (PAP) warm-ups enhance power performance although there are few studies conducted in this regard on sprinting. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a PAP warm-up on sprint performance. Methods. Twenty-four men and women completed a 40-yard (yd) sprint pretest on four nonconsecutive days followed by a PAP warm-up that included a sled resistance sprint at either 0%, 10%, 20%, or 30% of their body mass and concluded with a 40-yd dash posttest. Each resistance sprint was recorded for kinematic analysis. Results. A 2 × 2 × 4 factorial mixed ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference between sexes in 40-yd dash times (p < 0.001). A significant main effect was found in pre-and post-40-yd dash measures regardless of sex (p < 0.001). The results indicated no significant differences in the post-40-yd dash times between sled loads and the load by time interaction. The participants' 40-yd dash times improved 1.2% on average after the 10% load. Improvements in dash time for the 0%, 20%, and 30% loads were greater than 2%. Sprint kinematics analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences between lighter and heavier loads. Conclusions. Regardless of the significant disruptions in sprint mechanics, there appears to be a potential for heavier sled resistances to affect acute improvements in 40-yd sprint performance. However, it is unclear whether heavier sleds loads may provide greater benefit than warming up with 0% resistance.

Comparison of different sprint training sessions with assisted and resisted running: effects on performance and kinematics in 20-m sprints

“…Applying resisted sprints, such as sled towing, results in submaximal or maximal muscle contraction [8,20] and thus, by including resisted sprints in a warm-up protocol, normal sprint performance afterwards could be enhanced [19]. Smith et al [19] found that 20-yard sled sprinting with a load of 10, 20, and 30% of body weight during warm-up had a positive effect on 40-yard sprints.…”

“…Smith et al [19] found that 20-yard sled sprinting with a load of 10, 20, and 30% of body weight during warm-up had a positive effect on 40-yard sprints. However, they only tested the effect of one resistance run and not the effect of multiple efforts on normal sprint performance.…”

“…PAP has been defined as the muscles' ability to develop force, which is dependent on what happened earlier within the muscle and on improvements in performance that follow a submaximal or a maximal contraction [15]. In short sprints, few studies were performed in which PAP was induced [16][17][18][19]; however, a PAP effect was found mainly after using heavy back squats (85-90% of one repetition maximum (1-rM) [16][17][18]. Nevertheless, in competition, it is very difficult to use those exercises as conditioning stimuli owing to logistical limitations (access to squat lifting equipment near the track).…”

A pilot study involving the effect of two different complex training protocols on lower body power

“…In addition, some studies have suggested a rest period of 3 min between jumps in order to ensure phosphocreatine resynthesis. Future studies may benefit from using the same recovery time [10,15]. Also of note was that each participant finished vertical jump testing within 15 min or less.…”

“…However, few studies have been conducted using an initial power exercise instead of the more often used strength exercise in the complex pair [13][14][15]. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to examine the effects of CT on lower body power as measured by vertical jump performance and to investigate whether or not the nature of the first exercise, strength (e.g.…”