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Postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE) of sprint acceleration performance.
Nicholas J Brink1,2, Demitri Constantinou1,2, Georgia Torres1,2
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
European Journal of Sport Science
|July 12, 2021
Summary
Postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE) can improve sprint acceleration. Maximal sprint accelerations enhanced subsequent sprints, but weighted bounding did not show significant improvements. Previous testing may have influenced results.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE) describes performance improvements following high-intensity exercise.
- Understanding PAPE's relationship with exercise intensity and specificity is crucial for training optimization.
- Professional footballers were studied to investigate PAPE effects on maximal sprint performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the correlation between exercise intensity, specificity, and postactivation performance enhancement in maximal sprint accelerations.
- To compare the effects of sprint acceleration intervention (S) versus weighted bounding (P) on subsequent sprint performance.
- To evaluate the influence of a control condition (C) on sprint performance over time.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled, double-blind trial involving professional footballers.
- Participants performed maximal 20 m sprint accelerations at baseline and 2 and 6 minutes post-intervention.
- Interventions included: 2 repetitions of 20 m sprint accelerations (S), 3x10 alternative leg weighted bounding (P), or a control (C).
Main Results:
- Sprint intervention (S) significantly improved 10 m and 20 m sprint times at 2 and 6 minutes post-intervention compared to baseline.
- Weighted bounding (P) also showed significant improvements in sprint times at 2 and 6 minutes compared to baseline.
- A significant improvement was observed in the control group (C) between 2 and 6 minutes, suggesting potential learning or familiarization effects.
Conclusions:
- Maximal sprint acceleration may enhance subsequent maximal sprint performance, particularly at 2 minutes post-intervention.
- The specific interventions (S and P) demonstrated performance enhancements, though the control group's improvement suggests prior testing influences outcomes.
- Further research is needed to isolate the direct effects of specific interventions from potential learning effects in repeated sprint testing.
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