Batista, M., Tricoli, V., & Ugrinowitsch, C. (2006). The influence of strength training experience on explosive strength potentiation. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(5), Supplement abstract 1833.

"Postactivation potentiation (PAP) refers to an acute strength increment as a result of muscle activation history. It has been suggested that PAP may be manipulated to enhance acute athletic performance. However, the effectiveness of PAP to performance enhancement has not been demonstrated consistently. It seems PAP is dependent of the subject’s strength." This study investigated if the effectiveness of postactivation potentiation to increase vertical jump performance is dependent on strength training experience. Track and field athletes (N = 10), recreational strength trainers (N = 7), and physically active Ss (N = 10) performed one or three five-second maximum voluntary isometric contractions (1MVIC 5s or 3MVIC 5s), in a leg-press machine as a conditioning activity to induce vertical jump potentiation. Dependent variables assessed were maximal height, average rate of force development and peak power produced during a countermovement vertical jump.

There were no statistically significant difference in the dependent variables in response to the conditioning protocol groups or the physically active control group when the mean of three jumps or the best jump performance were compared.

Implication. Postactivation potentiation is unrelated to strength training experience.

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