ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2018 July-August;177(7-8):348-54

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.17.03681-6

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effects of post-activation potentiation on neuromuscular and metabolic parameters

Delvis M. CARDOSO ¹, Gaspar P. da SILVA ^{1, 2}, Miller P. GUIMARÃES ^{2, 3}, Osvaldo C. MOREIRA ^{2, 4, 5}, Felipe ABAD-COLIL ^{2, 6}, Sandro F. da SILVA ^{1, 2} ✉

¹ Department of Science Human Motricity, Pedro de Valdívia University, Chillán, Chile; ² Studies Research Group in Neuromuscular Responses (GEPREN), University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil; ³ Gammon Presbyterian College, Lavras, Brazil; ⁴ Institute of Biomedicine, University of León, León, Spain; ⁵ Institute of Biological Science and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Florestal, Brazil; ⁶ Faculty of Education Sciences, University San Sebastian, Valdívia, Chile

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the effects of post-activation potentiation (PAP) on neuromuscular and metabolic parameters.
METHODS: Seventeen (N.=17) men who were experienced in resistance training (4.6±1.4 years) completed two distinct PAP protocols on the horizontal bench press, in which the first consisted of 2 sets of 2 repetitions with a 90% load of one-repetition maximum and the second in 3 sets of 3 seconds of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Average power (POWa) and MVIC were assessed pre-potentiation and post-training, and blood lactate (BL) collections were performed pre- and post-potentiation and post-training.
RESULTS: In the POWa, there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) among the pre- (431.35±77.19 watts) and post-assessments in both PAP stimuli (isotonic: 368.26±67.77 watts and isometric: 358.04±74.67 watts) with no difference between them, in MVIC there was also a decrease without differences among PAP stimuli (control: 74.54±19.49 kgf; isotonic: 59.65±14.5 kgf and isometric 62.72±13.51 kgf) and in the BL, the control levels (isotonic: 2.59±0.54; isometric: 2.65±0.38 mmol) post-PAP were higher for the isotonic protocol (4.43±0.55 mmol), however, the levels did not show differences at the end of the training.
CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the PAP mechanism is ineffective after a tri-set method session, not showing plausible benefits that justify the daily routine in a gymnasium.

KEY WORDS: Muscle strength - Isotonic contraction - Isometric contraction