THE POST-ACTIVATION EFFECT OF COMBINED RESISTED AND ASSISTED SPRINTS

Abstract

Resisted and assisted training methods aim to increase neural activation, or post-activation potentiation (PAP), to enhance sprint performance. A preloaded stimulus causes a temporary performance increase that is more significant than what warm-up alone can provide. Resistance activities have traditionally been used to induce post-activation potentiation. Little is known when assisted and resisted sprints are combined and their effect on PAP. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the acute potentiating effect of combined resisted and assisted sprints on subsequent 20 m sprint performance. Sixteen physically active young males performed a baseline 20 m sprint followed by four assisted 20 m and four 20 m resisted sprints using a bungee cord. After the assisted-resisted stimulus, the participants performed one 20 m sprint at 4, 6, and 8 minutes. There was no significant improvement in 5, 10, or 20-m sprint times following the assisted-resisted stimulus. Therefore, the additive effect of assisted-resisted sprints failed to induce post-activation potential. The additive effect of assisted-resisted sprints could not induce post-activation potential to enhance subsequence sprint performance.

Keywords

• post-activation potential
• sprinting
• elastic tubing