Post Activation Potentiation Effects of Accommodating Resistance

Abstract

Resistance bands have been commonly used by athletes and trainers alike as a method to effectively increase performance- related variables such as power, velocity and rate of force development (RFD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of accommodating resistance upon countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, whilst attempting to utilize the phenomena of PAP. Eight resistance trained males ( mean ± SD, age ,21.6 ± 1.6 years; body mass 94.0 ± 17.0kg; height, 178.7 ± 5. 3cm) who had a minimum of one year’s weight training experience were tested for their 3RM in the back squat with (125.6 ± 23.1kg) and without (136.9 ± 20.3kg) resistance bands. Primary testing was performed on two separate days with a baseline CMJ performed 10 minutes prior to the subsequent conditioning contraction in a counterbalanced randomised order. Following a 5 minute rest, another CMJ was performed. Peak force (PF), time to peak force (TTPF), rate of force development (RFD), Velocity (V), peak power (PP) and Acceleration (A) were assessed using a portable AMTI force platform (AMTI, USA). The results reported that no significant effects were observed for Pf (p > 0.05), TTPF (p > 0.05), RFD (p > 0.05), V (p > 0.05), PP (p > 0.05) and A (p > 0.05) during both conditioning interventions. However, due to the highly individualised nature of PAP, these results should prompt further research on divergent populations. From the findings of this research, strength and conditioning professionals can appreciate that whilst accommodated resistance may not evoke increase in potentiation upon subsequent CMJ performance; there is no evidence to suggest it has a negative impact.