Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine if performing a lower body resistance training priming activity effects athletic performance completed 24 hours later. University level field hockey players (N = 10) completed 1 control (CON) and 2 experimental trials on separate days. A randomised, counter-balanced experimental design with cross-over was used across three conditions. The CON trial consisted of complete abstention from physical activity. For the ‘strength’ (STR) experimental trial participants performed a parallel back squat exercise for 5 sets of 2 repetitions with 90% 1RM; while for the ‘hypertrophy’ (HYP) experimental approach was 3 sets of 10 repetitions with 75% 1RM. Subjects attended a testing session 24 hours after each trial, consisting of CMJ, SJ, 22-cm DJ, 38-cm DJ and 40 m sprint. The 5 m sprint performance was significantly better (p < 0.05) for CON group when compared to the HYP group. No other significant differences were highlighted between trials. The results indicate that performing resistance training in-line with STR and HYP the day before competition does not improve athletes’ performance. The results also suggest how a lower body STR priming activity can be implemented the day before competition without negatively impact subsequent performance. For the strength and conditioning coach, this may be a useful window to train athletes during the ‘in-season’ schedule.

Keywords

Performance, Potentiation, Priming activity, Strength, Hypertrophy, Power,

References

  1. L.P. Kilduff, C.V. Finn, J.S. Baker, C.J. Cook, and D.J. West, Preconditioning strategies to enhance physical performance on the day of competition, International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 8 (2013) 677–681. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.8.6.677
  2. P. Aagaard, E.B. Simonsen, J.L. Andersen, P. Magnusson, and P. Dyhre-Poulsen, Increased rate of force development and neural drive of human skeletal muscle following resistance training, Journal of Applied Physiology, 93 (2002) 1318–1326. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00283.2002
  3. V. Gourgoulis, N. Aggeloussis, P. Kasimatis, G. Mavromatis, and A. Garas, Effect of a submaximal half-squats warm-up program on vertical jumping ability, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 17 (2003) 342–344. https://doi.org/10.1519/1533-4287(2003)017%3C0342:eoashw%3E2.0.co;2
  4. A. Güllich, and D. Schmidtbleicher, Short-term increase of explosive strength through maximal arbitrary contractions: The relation of neurolan involution [German]. Leistungssport 27: 1997.
  5. M.J. Matthews, H.P. Matthews, and B. Snook, The acute effects of a resistance training warmup on sprint performance, Research in Sports Medicine, 12 (2004) 151–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/15438620490460503
  6. D.G. Sale, Postactivation potentiation: Role in human performance, Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 30 (2002) 138–143. https://doi.org/10.1097/00003677-200207000-00008
  7. A.J. Sargent, and P. Dolan, Effect of prior exercise on maximal short-term power output in humans, Journal of Applied Physiology, 63 (1987) 1475–1480. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1987.63.4.1475
  8. W.B. Young, A. Jenner, and K. Griffiths, Acute enhancement of power performance from heavy load squats, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 12 (1998) 82–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/1533-4287(1998)012<0082:AEOPPF>2.3.CO;2
  9. C.J. Cook, L.P. Kilduff, B.T. Crewther, M. Beaven, and D.J. West, Morning based strength training improves afternoon physical performance in rugby union players, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 17 (2014) 317–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2013.04.016
  10. L.G. Ekstrand, C.L. Battaglini, R.G. McMurray, and E.W. Shields, Assessing explosive power production using the backward overhead shot throw and the effects of morning resistance exercise on afternoon performance, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27 (2013) 101–106. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3182510886
  11. B.R. Mason, C.K. Argus, B. Norcott, and N.B. Ball, Resistance Training Priming Activity Improves Upper-Body Power Output in Rugby Players: Implications for Game Day Performance, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31 (2017) 913–920. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000001552
  12. M. Russell, A. King, R.M. Bracken, C.J. Cook, T. Giroud, and L.P. Kilduff, A Comparison of Different Modes of Morning Priming Exercise on Afternoon Performance, International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 11 (2016) 763–767. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2015-0508
  13. E. Saez Saez de Villarreal, J.J. González-Badillo, and M. Izquierdo, Optimal warm-up stimuli of muscle activation to enhance short and long-term acute jumping performance, European Journal of Applied Physiology, 100 (2007) 393–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0440-9
  14. I. Jeffreys, Warm up revisited- the ‘RAMP’ method of optimising performance preparation, Professional Strength and Conditioning 6 (2007) 15–19.
  15. D.A. Lesuer, J.H. McCormick, J.L. Mayhew, R.L. Wasserstein, and D.M. Arnold, The Accuracy of seven predictions for estimating 1-RM performance in the bench press, squat, and deadlift,Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 11 (1997) 211–213. https://doi.org/10.1519/00124278-199711000-00001
  16. F.J. Naclerio, A. Jiménez, B.A. Alvar, and M.D. Peterson, Assessing strength and power in resistance training, Journal of Human Sport and Exercise 4 (2009) 100–113. https://doi.org/10.4100/jhse.2009.42.04
  17. M.J. Duncan, M. Lyons, and A.M. Nevill, Evaluation of Peak Power Prediction Equations in Male Basketball Players', Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 22 (2008) 1379-1381. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e31816a6337
  18. S.P. Sayers, D.V. Harackiewicz, E.A. Harman, P.N. Frykman, and M.T. Rosenstein, Cross-validation of three jump power equations, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 31 (1999) 572–577. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-199904000-00013
  19. J.M. Carlock, S.L. Smith, M.J. Hartman, R.T. Morris, D.A. Ciroslan, K.C. Pierce, R.U. Newton, E.A. Harman, W.A. Sands, and M.H. Stone, The relationship between vertical jump power estimates and weightlifting ability: a field-test approach, Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 18 (2004) 534–539. https://doi.org/10.1519/r-13213.1
  20. A.M. Batterham, and W.G. Hopkins, Making meaningful inferences about magnitudes, International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 1 (2006) 50–57. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.1.1.50
  21. W.G. Hopkins, Spreadsheets for analysis of controlled trials, with adjustment for a subject characteristic, Sportscience 10 (2006) 46–50.
  22. W.G. Hopkins, S.W. Marshall, A.M. Batterham, and J. Hanin, Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41 (2009) 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e31818cb278
  23. A.C. Fry, M.H. Stone, J.T. Thrush, and S.J. Fleck, Precompetition training sessions enhance competitive performance of high-anxiety junior weightlifters, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 9 (1995) 37–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/00124278-199502000-00008
  24. C.J. Cook, and B.T. Crewther, Changes in salivary testosterone concentrations and subsequent voluntary squat performance following the presentation of short video clips, Hormones and Behavior, 61 (2012) 17-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.09.006
  25. B.T. Crewther, C.J. Cook, C.M. Gaviglio, L.P. Kilduff, and S. Drawer, Baseline strength can influence the ability of salivary free testosterone to predict squat and sprinting performance, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26 (2012) 261–268. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3182185158
  26. B.T. Crewther, L.P. Kilduff, C.J. Cook, D.J. Cunningham, P. Bunce, R.M. Bracken, and C.M. Gaviglio, Relationships between salivary free testosterone and the expression of force and power in elite athletes, Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 52 (2012) 221-227.
  27. C.M. Gaviglio, B.T. Crewther, L.P. Kilduff, K.A. Stokes, and C.J. Cook, Relationship between pregame concentrations of free testosterone and outcome in rugby union, International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 9 (2014) 324–331. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0106
  28. W.J. Kraemer, C.C. Loebel, J.S. Volek, N.A. Ratamess, R.U. Newton, R.B. Wickham, L.A. Gotshalk, N.D. Duncan, S.A. Mazzetti, A.L. Gómez, M.R. Rubin, B.C. Nindl, and K. Häkkinen, The effect of heavy resistance exercise on the circadian rhythm of salivary testosterone in men, European Journal of Applied Physiology 84 (2001) 13–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004210000322
  29. B.T. Crewther, T. Lowe, R.P. Weatherby, N. Gill, and J. Keogh, Neuromuscular performance of elite rugby union players and relationships with salivary hormones, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23 (2009) 2046–2053. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181b73c19