Effekter av Post Activation Potentiation inför explosiva träningspass inriktade på styrka och effektutveckling hos elitjuniorer

Sammanfattning: Power has been proven to be an important factor for sport performance, especially in sports where accelerations, decelerations, jumping or throwing are of great importance. Post activation potentiation (PAP) induced by heavy exercise has been reported as an acute and effective method in improving individuals’ power output. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PAP during warm up on strength and power among elite junior athletes. Methods; 12 elite junior athletes from Kuortane sports gymnasium, Finland, participated in this study. Participants were allocated in two groups (Intervention’s and Control group) in a counterbalanced order. All participants performed a 1RM bench press test and a power-velocity test pre and post a 6-weeks training period. During the training period performed Intervention’s group 2 sets of 3 reps benchpress at 90% of 1RM during the warm up of each strength training session, while Control group performed the same supplement at the end of the strength training sessions.  Results:Results didn’t show any significant increases in 1RM bench press for either the intervention’s group or the control group. There were no significant increases observed in the power velocity test in any of the test groups either. 35% 1RM (C= -9, I= +45, P=0,13), 45% 1RM (C= +10, I= +25, P=0,57), 55% 1RM (C= -25, I= +36, P=0,008), 65% 1RM (C= -1, I= +40, P=0,26) samt 75% 1RM (C= -18, I= +30, P=0,14). (Watt, mean value) Discussion:1RM and power velocity did not differ significantly neither between groups nor in the pre vs. post measurements. Intervention’s group showed a larger improvement in power-velocity on 55% of 1RM compared to the control group but the effect size was rather low and therefore no significant conclusions can be drawn. Statistics have clearly shown that larger testing groups or/and a longer training period are needed in order to test the PAP hypothesis.