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Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Importance of Jumping Ability in Handball Throwing Speed and Accuracy
Published on: April 4, 2025
Post-activation potentiation effects on vertical and horizontal explosive performances of young handball and
Antonio Dello Iacono1, Johnny Padulo2,3, Alon Eliakim4,5
1Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel - antdelloiacono@virgilio.it.
Background:
The present study was designed to compare the effects of post-activation potentiation (PAP) protocols on explosive activities of trained young athletes.
Methods:
Twenty-six young team sport players (handball, N.=12; basketball, N.=14; mean age 15.4±0.3 years; mean height 169.5±6.4 cm; mean weight 61.4±7.6 kg; Tanner stages 3 and 4) performed seven countermovement jumps (CMJ) and seven 20-meter sprints at baseline, ~15s, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 30 minutes after three different stimulus conditions: 3 sets of 10 repetitions of double-leg drop jumps (PAPD), 3 sets of 5 repetitions of alternate-one-leg drop jumps (PAPO), or walking control (CON).
Results:
A significant reduction in explosive performance was observed at each time-point in both groups. Negative PAP effect occurred on the 20-meter sprint in PAPO at 16 (P=0.008), 24 (P=0.001) and 30 minutes (P<0.001) and in PAPD at 30 minutes (P=0.002) compared to CON.
Conclusions:
This study indicated the negative effect of PAP on subsequent explosive performance in young team sport players. These findings represent a practical suggestion for the prudent use of PAP protocols aimed at enhancing vertical and horizontal explosive performances of young athletes.
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