Does Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE) occur with strength exercises on unstable surfaces? Effects on jump and sprint performance in a randomized crossover trial

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.110599

Keywords:

Performance Enhancement, Warm-up, resistance training, Unstable strength training, Athletes

Abstract

Introduction: The effect of Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE) has been investigated using various strength exercises and training equipment.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of dynamic strength exercises on unstable platforms on jump ability and linear speed in jumping athletes and university sprinters.

Methodology: A randomized controlled crossover design was implemented with fifteen athletes from the University of Antioquia. All participants had at least six weeks of training experience, though variability in training years was considered a potential factor influencing results. The study lasted three weeks, with two randomized interventions.

Participants initially completed three familiarization of strength exercises on unstable platforms. Pre-tests measuring 20-meter sprint and countermovement jump were then conducted. Two groups were formed: Group A performed a standard warm-up, while Group B completed three sets of eight repetitions of strength exercises on Bosu with two minutes of recovery. Post-tests were administered at 0, 5, 9, and 12 minutes after intervention. Following a seven-day washout period, groups switched protocols, and tests were repeated. A blinded statistical analyst used repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey tests for comparisons, with graphical analysis conducted in R Studio.

Results: Both protocols significantly improved countermovement jump and sprint performance (p < 0.001). However, the experimental group exhibited immediate sprint potentiation, whereas the control group experienced it at minute 9 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Strength warm-ups on unstable platforms produce similar Post-Activation Performance Enhancement effects to stable dynamic warm-ups on neuromuscular variables such as countermovement jump and sprint.

References

Beato, M., Bigby, A. E. J., de Keijzer, K. L., Nakamura, F. Y., Coratella, G., & McErlain-Naylor, S. A. (2019). Post-activation potentiation effect of eccentric overload and traditional weightlifting exercise on jumping and sprinting performance in male athletes. PLoS ONE, 14(9), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0222466

Behm, D.G., Drinkwater, E. J., Willardson, J.M., & Cowley, P.M. (2010) Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Position Stand: The use of instability to train the core in athletic and non-athletic conditioning. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. 35, 11–14. DOI: 10.1139/H09-128

Behm, D. G., Muehlbauer, T., Kibele, Armin, & Urs Granacher. (2015). Effects of Strength Training Using Unstable Surfaces on Strength, Power and Balance Performance Across the Lifespan: A System-atic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Med, 45, 1645–1669. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0384-x

Blazevich, A. J., & Babault, N. (2019). Post-activation Potentiation Versus Post-activation Performance Enhancement in Humans: Historical Perspective, Underlying Mechanisms, and Current Issues. Frontiers in Physiology (10), 1359. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01359

Boullosa D. (2021) Post-activation performance enhancement strategies in sport: a brief review for practitioners. Human Movement ;22(3):101-109. doi:10.5114/hm.2021.103280

Cardozo, L. A., Picón-Martínez, M., Chulvi-Medrano, I., & Cortell-Tormo, J. M. (2019). La potenciación post-activación en el salto vertical: una revisión Post-activation potentiation in vertical jump: a review. Retos, 36, 44–51. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v36i36.66814

Castagna, C., Ganzetti, M., Ditroilo, M., Giovannelli, M., Rocchetti, A., & Manzi, V. (2013). Concurrent va-lidity of vertical jump performance assessment systems. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27(3), 761-768. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31825dbcc5

Chaouachi, M., Granacher, U., Makhlouf, I., Hammami, R., Behm, D. & Chaouachi, A. (2017). Session Se-quence of Balance and Plyometric Exercises Does Not Affect Training Adaptations with Youth Soccer Athletes. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 16, 125-136. https://www.jssm.org/jssm-16-125.xml%3EFulltext#1

Cressey, E., West, C., Tiberio, D., Kraemer, W. & Maresh, C. (2007). The effects of ten weeks of lower-body unstable surface training on markers of athletic performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 21(2), 561–567. DOI: 10.1519/R-19845.1

Cuenca-Fernandez, F., Smith, I. C., Jordan, M. J., MacIntosh, B. R., Lopez-Contreras, G., Arellano, R., et al. (2017). Nonlocalized postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE) effects in trained ath-letes: a pilot study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. 42, 1122–1125. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0217

Darrall-Jones, J., Jones, B., Roe, G., Till, K. (2016). Reliability and Usefulness of Linear Sprint Testing in Adolescent Rugby Union and League Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30 (5), 1359-1364. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001233

Escobar Hincapié, A., Agudelo Velásquez, C. A., Ortiz Uribe, M., García Torres, C. A., & Rojas Jaramillo, A. (2021). Unilateral and Bilateral Post-Activation Performance Enhancement on Jump Perfor-mance and Agility. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910154

Friedman, L., Furberg, C., DeMets, D., Reboussin, D., Granger, C. (2015). Fundamentals of clinical trials. Fifth edition. Springer.

Gonçalves, C., Bezerra, P., Clemente, F. M., Vila-Chã, C., Leão, C., Brandão, A., & Cancela, J. M. (2022). Ef-fects of bodyweight neuromuscular training with and without instability on balance control in active universitarians. Research in Sports Medicine, 30(2), 128–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2020.1853544

Granacher, U., Prieske, O., Majewski, M., Büsch, D. & Muehlbauer, T. (2015). The role of instability with plyometric training in sub-elite adolescent soccer players. International Journal of Sports Medi-cine, 36(5), 386-394. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1395519

Hammami, R., Granacher, U., Makhlouf, I., Behm, D. & Chaouachi, A. (2016). Sequencing effects of bal-ance and plyometric training on physical performance in youth soccer athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30(12), 3278–3289. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001425.

Haugen, T. A., Buchheit, M., & Sprint, G. (2012). Sprint running performance monitoring: Methodologi-cal and practical considerations. Sports Medicine, 42(9), 683-701. https://doi.org/10.2165/11635560-000000000-00000

Hébert-Losier, K., & Martyn, C. (2014). The MARS for Squat, Countermovement, and Standing Long Jump Performance Analyses: Are Measures Reproducible?. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28 (7), 1849-1857. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000343

Jiménez-Reyes, P. & González-Badillo, J.J. (2011). Control de la carga de entrenamiento a través del CMJ en pruebas de velocidad y saltos. Cultura, ciencia y deporte. Revista de la UCM. 6 (7), 207-217. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/3784752.pdf.

Kean, C., Behm, D., Young, W. (2006). Fixed foot balance training increases rectus femoris activation during landing and jump height in recreationally active women. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 5, 138-148. PMID: 24198691.

Kibele, A., & Behm, D. G. (2009). Seven Weeks of Instability and Traditional Resistance Training Effects on Strength, Balance and Functional Performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Re-search, 23(9), 2443–2450. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181bf0328

Kilduff, L. P., Finn, C. v, Baker, J. S., Cook, C. J., & West, D. J. (2013). Preconditioning Strategies to En-hance Physical Performance on the Day of Competition. International Journal of Sports Physi-ology and Performance, (8). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.8.6.677

Lago-Fuentes C, Rey E, Padrón-Cabo A, Sal de Rellán-Guerra A, Fragueiro-Rodríguez A. & García-Núñez J. (2018) Effects of Core Strength Training Using Stable and Unstable Surfaces on Physical Fit-ness and Functional Performance in Professional Female Futsal Players. Journal of Human Ki-netics, 65(1), 213-224.

Maroto-Izquierdo, S., Bautista, I. J., & Rivera, F. M. (2020). Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) after a single bout of high-intensity flywheel resistance training. Biology of Sport, 37(4), 343–350. https://doi.org/10.5114/BIOLSPORT.2020.96318

MacIntosh, B. R., Robillard, M. E., & Tomaras, E. K. (2012). Should postactivation potentiation be the goal of your warm-up?. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism, 37(3), 546-550.

Mejía, N. F. (2022). Velocidad horizontal salto alto masculino en el campeonato mundial de atletismo 2017: Horizontal speed men’s high jump at the 2017 world athletics championship. Revista Académica Internacional De Educación Física, 2(1), 26–33.

Moresi, M., Bradshaw, E., Greene, D., Naughton, G. (2011). The assessment of adolescent female athletes using standing and reactive long jumps. Sports Biomechanics, 10 (02), 73-84. DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2011.569564

Petisco, C., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Gomez-Ruano, M.-A., Maria Gonzalez-Rave, J., Sanchez-Sanchez, J., Hernández, D., Gonzalo-Skok, O., & Nakamura, F. Y. (2019). Post-activation Potentiation: Ef-fects of Different Conditioning Intensities on Measures of Physical Fitness in Male Young Pro-fessional Soccer Players. Frontiers, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01167

Peña, G., Ramón Heredia Elvar, J., Susana Moral, D., Mata Marzo Edir Da Silva Grigoletto, F., Mata, F., & Edir Da Silva Grigoletto, M. (2012). Evidencias sobre los Efectos del Entrenamiento Inestable para la Salud y el Rendimiento. PubliCE Publicaciones sobre ciencias del ejercicio. https://publice.info/articulo/evidencias-sobre-los-efectos-del-entrenamiento-inestable-para-la-salud-y-el-rendimiento-1450-sa-P57cfb272120e2

Prieske, O., Behrens, M., Chaabene, H., Granacher, U. y Maffiuletti, N. A. (2020). Time to Differentiate Postactivation “Potentiation” from “Performance Enhancement” in the Strength and Condition-ing Community. Sports Medicine, 50, 1559–1565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01300-0

Pueo, B., Jimenez-Olmedo, JM., Lipinska, P., Busko, K., Penichet-Tomas, A. (2018). Concurrent validity and reliability of proprietary and open-source jump mat systems for the assessment of vertical jumps in sport sciences. Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics, 20(3), 51-57. DOI: 10.5277/ABB-01132-2018-02

Romero-Franco, N., Jiménez-Reyes, P., Castaño-Zambudio, A., Capelo-Ramírez, F., Rodríguez-Juan J., González-Hernández, J., Toscano-Bendala, F., Cuadrado-Peñafiel V. & Balsalobre-Fernández C. (2017). Sprint performance and mechanical outputs computed with an iPhone app: Compari-son with existing reference methods. European Journal of Sports Science, 17(4), 386-392.

Saeterbakken, A., Olsen, A., Behm, D., Bardstu, H., & Andersen, V. (2019). The short- and long-term ef-fects of resistance training with different stability requirements. PLoS ONE, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214302

Sánchez-Sánchez, J., Raya-González, J., Ramírez-Campillo, R., Chaabene, H., Petisco, C., & Nakamura, F. Y. (2022). The Increased Effectiveness of Resistance Training on Unstable vs. Stable Surfaces on Selected Measures of Physical Performance in Young Male Soccer Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36(4), 888–894. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003590

Seitz, L.B. & Haff, G.G. (2016). Factors modulating post-activation potentiation of jump, sprint, throw, and upper-body ballistic performances: a systematic review with meta-analysis. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(2), 231–240. doi: 10.1007/s40279-015-0415-7.

Souto, Maior B., Simão, A., Freitas De Salles, R. Miranda, B., Costa, H., Brando, P. (2009). Neuromuscular activity during the squat exercise on an unstable platform. Brazilian Journal of Biomotricity, 3(2), 121-129.

Till, K. A., & Cooke, C. (2009). The effects of postactivation potentiation on sprint and jump perfor-mance of male academy soccer players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23(7), 1960–1967. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b8666e

Sparkes, R. & Behm, D. (2010). Training adaptations associated with an 8-week instability resistance training program with recreationally active individuals. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 24(7), 1931–1941. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181df7fe4

Wilson, J.M., Duncan, N.M., Marin, P.J., Brown, L.E., Loenneke, J.P., Wilson, S.M.C.(2013). Meta-analysis of postactivation potentiation and power: effects of conditioning activity, volume, gender, rest periods, and training status Strength and Conditioning Journal, 27(3), 854–859. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31825c2bdb

Yeow Ng, C., Ee Chen, S., & Lum, D. (2020). Inducing Postactivation Potentiation With Different Modes of Exercise. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 42(2), 63–81. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000522

Zech, A., Hü, M., Lutz, P., Banzer, W. & Pfeifer, K. (2010). Balance Training for Neuromuscular Control and Performance Enhancement: A Systematic Review. Journal of Athletic Training. 45(4), 392–403. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-45.4.392

Zemková, E. (2021). Stable to unstable differences in force–velocity-power profiling during chest presses and squats. Journal of Biomechanics, 122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110463

Zuo, C., Bo, S., Wang, T & Zhang, W. (2022). Functional and traditional resistance training are equally effective in increasing upper and lower limb muscular endurance and performance variables in untrained young men. Frontiers in Physiology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.868195

Downloads

Published

27-03-2025

Issue

Section

Original Research Article

How to Cite

Cardona Gómez, J. S., & Rojas Jaramillo, A. (2025). Does Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE) occur with strength exercises on unstable surfaces? Effects on jump and sprint performance in a randomized crossover trial. Retos, 67, 182-195. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.110599