Bellar, D., Bliss, M. V., Glickman, E. L., Barkley, J. E., Ryan, E. J., & Bellar, A. (2008). The effect of post activation potential on performance in the standing shot put throw. ACSM 55th Annual Meeting Indianapolis, Presentation Number, 2508.

This study determined the influence of performing a maximal throw for height with a 40-lb medicine ball on subsequent shot put performances. College-age shot putters (N = 4) served as Ss. Mean and peak distance of standing shot put throws under normal conditions were compared with peak medicine ball throws. Trials were completed on two separate days. Before each trial, Ss underwent a standard warm-up protocol, consisting of increasing intensity short runs (~30 m), dynamic stretching, and medicine ball drills, followed by three practice attempts with a standard 16-lb indoor shot put. During the first session (control condition), Ss were given five throws measured for distance. In the second session (experimental condition), Ss were given five throws measured for distance that were preceded by a maximal effort throw for height with a 40-lb medicine ball.

There was no difference between the control and medicine-ball warm-up conditions for mean distance. However, the peak (greatest) distance in the set of throws was significantly different between the two warm-up conditions.

Implication. A maximal effort warm-up with a heavy medicine ball increased the peak distance attained by shot putters. [It remains to be seen what would happen if maximum effort shot-put throws were substituted for the medicine ball throws. The experimental condition involved 10 maximum efforts (shot put + medicine ball) while the control condition only involved five throws (shot put). Because of this confounding error, the results of this study might be misleading.]

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