Postactivation Performance Enhancement of Concentric Bench Press Throw After Eccentric-Only Conditioning Exercise

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Strength and Conditioning

Background:

• Postactivation potentiation (PAP) is a phenomenon where a preceding voluntary contraction enhances subsequent muscular performance.
• Eccentric-only (ECC ONLY) exercise, involving the lengthening phase of muscle contraction, is increasingly studied for its training effects.
• Investigating PAP after ECC ONLY exercise with supramaximal loads is crucial for optimizing training protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the effects of ECC ONLY bench press exercise at 110% and 130% of concentric 1-repetition maximum (1RM) on subsequent performance.
• To assess changes in peak power (PP) and peak velocity (PV) during a concentric-only (CON ONLY) bench press throw.
• To determine if supramaximal eccentric loads induce postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE).

Main Methods:

• Thirteen strength-trained men performed two sets of two repetitions of ECC ONLY bench press at 110% or 130% of their 1RM.
• A 5-minute rest interval was provided between conditioning sets.
• Peak power and peak velocity of a CON ONLY bench press throw (30% 1RM) were measured before and 5 minutes after conditioning activity.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in PP was observed post-conditioning, averaging 10.5% at 110% 1RM and 9.9% at 130% 1RM (p < 0.01).
• Peak velocity also significantly increased, averaging 5.9% at 110% 1RM and 6.1% at 130% 1RM (p < 0.01).
• No significant differences in PP or PV enhancement were found between the 110% and 130% 1RM conditions.

Conclusions:

• Eccentric-only conditioning exercise using loads exceeding the concentric 1RM effectively enhances subsequent concentric power output and bar velocity.
• This postactivation performance enhancement suggests that ECC ONLY contractions with supramaximal loads can be a potent stimulus for improving explosive performance.
• The findings support the use of ECC ONLY exercises as a viable strategy for acute performance enhancement in strength and power training.