Recent studies have shown potential for acutely improving athletic performance utilizing post-activation potentiation (PAP) activities. When sets, repetitions, recovery, and intensity are specified, PAP may result in more successful force production by affecting the contractile history of the active muscle fibers. Though research has been performed testing these mechanisms, few protocols have paired practical warm-ups with a competitive simulation. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of warm-up strides (relaxed sprints), with and without a weighted vest, on 15 meter dash performance in Division II Track and Field Athletes. Though the results were not significant, there was a trend towards the non-weighted vest protocol eliciting a quicker sprint time. It is possible that the repetitions performed with the vest could have led to fatigue instead of potentiation. However, rest time and intensity (amount of weight/effort given) could also have caused the results to differ from previous PAP studies. The physiological difference of individual athletes should also be considered with the understanding that one certain warm-up procedure may not benefit all. Further research should be conducted altering the different variables that affect PAP in order to identify a protocol that supports optimal performance.

Creator

• Wieland, Chelsea

Contributors

• Robinson, Richard

Publisher

• University of Indianapolis

Language

• en

Identifier

• Wieland_Chelsea_Final Honors Project.pdf

Keyword

• Baccalaureate 'with distinction'

• Strain Honors College

Date created

• 2017-03-20

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/