BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine and compare the post-activation potentiation (PAP) effects of the Back Squat (SQ-PAP) and Hip Thrust (HT-PAP) exercises in terns of vertical jump height (VJ), 20-yard dash and 40-yard dash time in physically active university students. Considering the Force-vector theory, it was hypothesized that HT-PAP would induce greater potentiation for 40-yard dash than SQ-PAP whereas SQ-PAP would induce greater potentiation for 20-yard dash and VJ than HT-PAR. METHODS: Seventeen kinesiology and exercise science students (8 male and 9 female) who resistance train at least 3 times/week (age, 21.71 +/- 1.49 years; body mass, 75.58 +/- 11.89 kg; height, 173.98 +/- 11.88 cm and training experience 5.47 +/- 2.00 years) joined this study. They performed three experimental sessions namely; baseline (BL). SQ-PAP loading session and HT-PAP loading session with 48 hours interval with a randomized open crossover study design. BL session was also accepted as control and familiarization session. SQ-PAP and HT-PAP exercises were performed roughly at 90% of 1 Repetition maximum (1 RM) of the subjects with three repetitions. Subjects were tested for vertical jump height (VJ), 20-yard dash and 40-yard dash time before and 8 minutes after each PAP loading exercise. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that the potentiation effects of SQ-PAP and HT-PAP exercises on VJ height, 20-yard and 40-yard dash were similar that none of the loading exercises with 8 min rest interval had any increasing or detrimental performance effect on VJ (P=0.923). 20-yard dash (P=0.133) as well 40-yard dash time (P=0.570). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that none of the loading protocols with above mentioned exercises have any detrimental or improving effects on VJ height, 20-yard dash and 40-yard dash time for physically active university students who joined this study. Although no acute potentiation effect has been found, this study also shows that SQ-PAP, HT-PAP exercises can be used interchangeably and safely to avoid training monotony during longer training periods for chronic adaptations.

The optimization of warm-up strategies is essential to maximize athletic performance, especially in resistance training. While prolonged static stretching is associated with reduced power output, post-activation potentiation is known to increase it. However, the effects of short-term static stretching and its interaction with post-activation potentiation remain unclear. This study examined the acute effects of short-term static stretching alone and static stretching combined with post-activation potentiation on bench press power in trained individuals. The experimental method was used in this study. Twenty-four resistance-trained males successfully completed four sessions. The findings showed that static stretching alone significantly increased both peak and mean power compared to baseline. Combining static stretching with post-activation potentiation further increased the peak and mean power compared to baseline, but not by significantly more than static stretching alone. As a main conclusion, short-term static stretching can notably increase upper body strength, and although the addition of post-activation potentiation provides a numerical benefit, it does not outperform static stretching alone in this regard. Both static stretching and static stretching + post-activation potentiation may be viable warm-up strategies to improve acute bench press performance in trained individuals.

[Purpose] Purpose of this study is to measure the changes in various physiological markers and performance criteria for women basketball players over the course of a travel heavy season. [Participants and Methods] Fifty one Division-II female basketball players and a control group of 54 females joined this study. Measurements began at the beginning of the competitive season and concluded with final measurements at the end of the competitive season. [Results] The female basketball players showed noticeable increases in resting salivary cortisol, visceral trunk fat, resting heart rate, and resting blood pressure. These athletes also showed diminishment in isokinetic force of leg muscles, particularly in knee flexion strength. Vertical jump measurements also indicated a slight diminishment. In contrast, the control group experienced none of the same changes. [Conclusion] Over the course of a grueling flight schedule in combination with a full-length basketball season, the female athletes in this study showed significant declinations in many indicators of overall health. It is concluded that resulting prolonged intermittent stress of a travel-heavy season can lead to significant changes in certain physiological markers with notable decreases in isokinetic force of leg muscle.