Post-activation Potentiation and Sprinting Performance

Sprinting ability is an imperative quality for many sports, especially for sprint and power athletes. Regular sprint training improves acceleration, maximal speed and power. Thus, sprint training consists one of the basic elements of the athletes' training program.

One method used by coaches to improve performance is the implementation of a pre-conditioning exercise aiming to post-activation potentiation (PAP). Post-activation potentiation phenomenon refers to the increase in performance following a maximal or near maximal muscle contraction (e.g. a pre-conditioning exercise). However, the effectiveness of such an approach is under debate, such that improvement, but also no improvement, or even deterioration of the performance following pre-conditioning exercises has been reported. The improvement of performance following a pre-conditioning exercise seems to depend on the relationship between muscle twitch potentiation and fatigue following the pre-conditioning exercise. When muscle twitch potentiation is greater than muscle fatigue, then the PAP mechanism will be activated and performance will be improved. Contrary, under similar muscle twitch potentiation and fatigue, performance will not change, and when muscle twitch potentiation is lower than fatigue, muscle performance will decrease. PAP phenomenon has been studied mainly regarding its effectiveness to improve jumping performance, while its effectiveness on improving sprinting performance has not been adequately studied. However, information regarding the effectiveness of the implementation of pre-conditioning exercises aiming to improve sprinting performance, is important for the design of an optimum training program for the maximization of the athletes' performance and the avoidance of injuries.

The aim of this study is to investigate a) the effectiveness of the implementation of a pre-conditioning exercise to activate the PAP mechanism and improve performance of a following sprint, and b) to investigate whether PAP is maintained in repeated efforts during the same training session.

The study will be implemented in a randomized, cross over, repeated measures design, at three cycles.

According to a preliminary power analysis (a probability error of 0.05, and a statistical power of 80%), a sample size of 8 - 10 participants was considered appropriate in order to detect statistically meaningful differences between groups. Considering a possible drop-out, 15 participants will be recruited. Procedures will be in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki, as revised in 2013.

Before the experimental procedures, all participants will sign an informed consent form after they will be informed about all the benefits and risks of the study, and they will also fill in a medical history questionnaire. Participants will then perform baseline measurements at the Laboratory of Biochemistry, Physiology and Nutrition of Exercise (SmArT Lab), Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly: anthropometric characteristics (body height, body mass, body mass index) via a stadiometer-scale (Stadiometer 208; Seca, Birmingham, UK), body composition (percent of body fat, lean body mass, fat mass, bone density) via dual emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, GE-Healthcare, Lunar DPX NT, Belgium), isokinetic strength (isometric, concentric and eccentric torque of the knee extensors and knee flexors of both limbs) on an isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex, HUMAC NORM 360, Ronkonkoma, NY). The individual optimum rest period between the pre-conditioning exercise and the subsequent 30-m sprint will be estimated, in order each participant to perfrom each 30-m sprint under an optimal condition. The rest periods of 3, 6, and 9 minutes will be tested for each participant and the rest period that leads to the best sprinting performance will be applied during the experimental training protocols.

Participants will then perform 6 x 30-m sprints under three different conditions in a random order: a) control trial (sprint training without pre-conditioning exercise), b) sprint training with pre-conditioning exercise (2 x 4 squat jumps with 0% of 1RM at squat), and c) sprint training with pre-conditioning exercise (2 x 4 squat jumps with 20% of 1RM at squat). The randomization of the trials will be made via a random integer set generator (Random.org) available online.

Prior to, and following each 30-m sprint, assessment of muscle soreness in the knee flexors and knee extensors, countermovement jump height, and blood lactate concentration, will be performed during each training session. The exact above procedures will be repeated by the participants during the remaining two experimental trials. Between trials, a wash-out period of 7 days will be applied.