Short-term effects of half-squat jump potentiating protocol on power output and countermovement jump performance

The purpose of this study was to determine short-term effect of complex training with inclusion of postactivation potentiation (PAP) on average power output (P-max) and countermovement jump (CMJ) in competitive athletes. Sixteen athletes (age: 21.3 +/- 3.3 years, height: 178.9 +/- 8.6 cm, weight: 74.8 +/- 9.9 kg) were pair-matched and randomly assigned into intervention (INT) (n=8), and control group (CON) (n=8). Over a training period of a 6-weeks with training frequency 2 days per week, the subjects underwent pre-, mid- (after 3 weeks), and post-testing (after 6 weeks) in CMJ and P-max Before the start of each training session EXP performed PAP protocol which consisted of 3 sets and 4 repetitions of half-squat jump exercise with individualized loads on (P-max), whereas CON continued their normal complex training without the inclusion of PAP. Both groups significantly improved performance after 6 weeks of training. Novel findings of this study have shown that the INT which has been regularly performing PAP protocol before each training session achieved greater gains in P-max (16.5 % vs. 4.9 %, p<0.01, from pre- to mid-training) and CMJ (15.4 % vs. 8.3 %, p<0.05, from pre- to post-training) compared to the CON. In conclusion, it seems that performing potentiating protocols before complex training sessions can potentially enhance motor performance in competitive athletes.