Postactivation potentiation (PAP) is a physiological adaptation which enables the muscles’ contractile properties to optimally perform. PAP is engendered through pre- performance conditioning activities, such as parallel back squats performed prior to a vertical jump test.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of postactivation potentiation on subsequent 40-yard sprint performance in 16- to 23-year-old male athletes, specifically, the effects of hexagonal bar deadlifts (HBD) and weighted sled sprints (WSS) as PAP-loading protocols.

METHODS: Thirty-one male subjects (age, 16.9 ± 1.4 years; height, 180.2 ± 6.2 cm; weight 83.4 ± 19.2 kg) participated in this study. Testing sessions included two different visits, a control trial and a PAP-loading protocol trial separated by ~48-hours, counterbalanced, allowing each subject to act as his own control. The HBD (n = 8) group performed four sets of HBD as the PAP-loading protocol, using body weight (BW) to calculate estimated one repetition max (1RM). The WSS (n = 23) group performed four sets of WSS for 15-yards, using WSS loads of 25%, and 50% BW. Both PAP-loading protocols were followed by a 6-minute rest period and concluded with two laser-timed 40-yard sprint performances. Control trials for both groups consisted of identical time intervals as the PAP trial, with active movement utilized instead of the PAP-loading protocol.

RESULTS: The PAP trials had faster average 40-yard sprint times (5.35 ± 0.44 s) compared to the control trials (5.39 ± 0.39 s) for all subjects. The average difference for the PAP trials (-0.04 ± 0.10) was statistically significant (p = 0.029). However, there was statistical significance (p = 0.035) between PAP-loading groups, with WSS being the only group to improve in sprint time for the PAP trial. The WSS group improved in 40-yard sprint time for the PAP trial (5.33 ± 0.45 s) compared to the control trial (5.40 ± 0.41 s) with a PAP difference of -0.06 ± 0.10 s for 40-yard sprint time.

CONCLUSION: The use of a PAP-loading protocol enhances 40-yard sprint performance, with the use of WSS proving to generate faster sprint times compared to the HBD.

Table 2: Average Control Trial (Trial A) vs Average PAP Trial (Trial X) (mean ± SD)

Figure 3: Average control trial (trial A) vs average PAP trial (trial X)