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Post activation potentiation (PAP) is an acute enhancement of muscular function subsequent to an intense muscle conditioning activity. Practical application of PAP as a physical preparation for enhanced performance is a topic of considerable interest in the sport performance community. The purpose of this study was to determine if a dynamic warm-up (WU) plus a progression of deadlift (DL) sets culminating in a one-repetition maximum DL (1-RM DL) (i.e., a PAP conditioning activity) is more effective in improving the standing long jump (SLJ) as opposed to using a dynamic WU alone. Secondarily, it was of interest to determine if there was a meaningful relationship between the 1-RM DL and SLJ ability. Twenty NCAA Division I male North American football players participated in the study (age=20.3±2.3 years, height=183.5±6.3 cm, mass=96.3±17.1 kg). Participants met three times separated by one week. The initial gathering was an orientation meeting where participants were briefed on the study protocol and height, age and body mass were recorded. During the first data collection the participants completed a dynamic WU immediately followed by a progression of DLs culminating in a 1-RM DL; this served as a PAP conditioning activity. Following the PAP WU (5-6 minutes) the participants completed two trials of SLJs separated by 2-3 minutes. During the second data collection the participants completed the dynamic WU only followed (5-6 minutes) by the participants completing two trials of SLJs separated by 2-3 minutes. A paired t-test was used to compare the maximum SLJ between WU conditions and a Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was calculated to compare 1-RM DLs with SLJ scores. The SLJ was significantly greater (4.3±7.5 cm) following the 1-RM DL PAP warm-up (p

The ideal performance state is manifested by psychological and physiological efficiency. The psychological effects of anxiety and self-confidence has been shown to alter the efficiency of performance. This study attempted to identify the state anxiety and self-confidence of high school athletes just prior to a one repetition maximum (1-RM) back squat and determine if the number of spotters affects an athlete’s level of state anxiety and/or self-confidence. Male high school athletes (10th and 11th grades) were randomly separated into two experimental groups who performed the 1-RM back squat (BSQ) with either 1 spotter (1SG: n=52) or 3 spotters (3SG: n=54). Following a dynamic warm-up period and several progressive BSQ warm-up sets, and just prior to attempts at a 1-RM BSQ, the participants completed the revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2R). The CSAI-2R included the number of spotters (1 or 3) that would be present during the subsequent 1-RM BSQ attempts. The CSAI-2R is a17-question instrument with three subscales (self-confidence, somatic anxiety, and cognitive anxiety). The subscale scores were compared between the 1SG and 3SG with an independent t-test (alpha≤0.05). None of the subscales (self-confidence, somatic anxiety, and cognitive anxiety) were significantly different between the 1SG and 3SG experimental groups (p>0.05). Within the parameters of this study, the number of spotters present during the execution of the 1-RM BSQ had no practical or statistical impact on self-confidence, somatic anxiety, and cognitive anxiety. Coaches and athletes could use this information in the training environment in order to make best use of personnel (assigned to spotting tasks), physical resources (ex. squat racks), and time management.

The Assess2Perform Bar Sensei is a device used to measure barbell velocity for velocity-based training that has not yet been validated. The purpose of this study was to determine criterion validity and reliability of the Assess2Perform Bar Sensei in barbell back squats by comparing it against the GymAware PowerTool, a previously validated instrument. Sixteen injury-free, resistance-trained subjects (eleven males and five females) were recruited. Subjects were tested for their back squat one repetition maximum (1RM). Then, on two separate days, subjects performed two sets of three repetitions at loads of 45%, 60% and 75% 1RM. The GymAware PowerTool and Bar Sensei were attached to the barbell in similar locations for concurrent collection of mean concentric velocity (MCV) and peak concentric velocity (PCV). The Bar Sensei and PowerTool showed generally fair to poor agreement for MCV and PCV when subjects lifted 45% of 1RM (intraclass correlation;ICC 0.4−0.59), and they showed poor agreement when subjects lifted 60% and 75% of 1RM (ICC 0.3−0.4). Inter-repetition/within-set reliability for the Bar Sensei ranged between ICC = 0.273−0.451 for MCV and PCV compared to the far more reliable PowerTool (ICC = 0.651−0.793). Currently, the Bar Sensei is not a reliable or valid tool for measuring barbell velocity in back squats.

This study addressed the role of chronic exercise to enhance physical self-description as measured by self-estimated percent body fat. Accuracy of physical self-description was determined in normal-weight, regularly exercising and non-exercising males with similar body mass index (BMI)’s and females with similar BMI’s (n=42 males and 45 females of which 23 males and 23 females met criteria to be considered chronic exercisers). Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the degree of agreement between self-estimated percent body fat and actual laboratory measurements (hydrostatic weighing). Three statistical techniques were employed: Pearson correlation coefficients, Bland and Altman plots, and regression analysis. Agreement between measured and self-estimated percent body fat was superior for males and females who exercised chronically, compared to non-exercisers. The clinical implications are as follows. Satisfaction with one’s body can be influenced by several factors, including self-perceived body composition. Dissatisfaction can contribute to maladaptive and destructive weight management behaviors. The present study suggests that regular exercise provides a basis for more positive weight management behaviors by enhancing the accuracy of self-assessed body composition.

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) has been shown to acutely amplify muscular power output and may be advantageous for athletes looking to improve performance. PAP may have an acute window of effectiveness between 2 to 20 min. With correct timing and implementation it may be possible to induce PAP in competitive situations. The purpose of this study was to examine the time frame of potentiation following a PAP warm-up in collegiate female volleyball players. In this study, nine female collegiate volleyball players completed three laboratory sessions over the course of 10 days. During the first session, the athlete’s 5-RM back squat was determined for subsequent use as the conditioning activity to initiate PAP. A repeated measures experimental design was then employed for Sessions 2 and 3 where half of the participants alternately performed either a dynamic or PAP warm-up prior to performing a standing long jump (SLJ) at 2, 6, 10, 14, and 18 min. A mixed-factor repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine the effects of the two warm-up strategies (PAP vs. dynamic) on standing long jump (SLJ) performance across time. There was a significant effect for time (p < 0.01) and warm-up strategy (p < 0.01). Bonferroni post hoc techniques determined that the SLJs that followed the PAP warm-up were significantly greater at 2 (4.8%), 6 (3.6%), and 10 (3.6%) min compared to SLJs post-dynamic warm-up (p < 0.05). However, those differences did not persist at 14 or 18 min (p > 0.05). Further analysis included non-parametric pairwise comparisons (Wilcoxon signed-rank tests) between the SLJ scores at 2, 6, 10, 14, and 18 min (PAP vs. dynamic). The non-parametric results were consistent with the parametric results. Within the parameters of this study, it is concluded that performing a 5-RM back squat induces a measureable PAP effect for up to 10 min.