Investigation of the parameters modulating responsiveness to post-activation performance enhancement

• Grant number: 23/11873-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: September 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Coelho Rabello de Lima
• Grantee: Gabriel Fontanetti
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) has been widely studied recently. However, some points regarding the parameters modulating responsiveness to this phenomenon are yet to be determined. It has been suggested that trained persons can benefit from the use of a self-selected interval (SSI) after pre-activation (PA) in PAPE sessions, but the reproducibility of this method is not yet known. Furthermore, PAPE is used in contrast training sessions, which alternate between high-load efforts (i.e., PA) and powerful actions. However, there are no studies investigating the sustainability of responsiveness to PAPE during such sessions. Moreover, the current literature - based off transversal studies - suggests that trained persons are more responsive to PAPE compared to untrained individuals, but the exact strength training-induced adaptations that lead to greater responsiveness to PAPE are yet to be known. The aims of the present project are to investigate: 1) if the use of a SSI is reproducible in trained persons; 2) for how long responsiveness to PAPE is sustained during complex training sessions, and; 3) which strength training-induced neuromuscular adaptations are associated with increased responsiveness to PAPE. For all experiments, responsiveness to PAPE will be assessed following a PA protocol consisting of three sets of three back squats with a load corresponding to 87% of one repetition maximum. The key dependent variable to determine responsiveness to PAPE will be related to countermovement jump performance over a force plate. We expect that the obtained results contribute to elucidating mechanisms underpinning responsiveness to PAPE.