Electromyographic responses during isometric contraction in post-activation potential protocol

Year 2024, Volume: 10 Issue: 3, 183 - 190, 30.09.2024

Gökhan İpekoğlu , Hasan Sözen , Tuğba Çetin , Necdet Apaydın , Muhammet Emirhan Çelik , Hacı Ahmet Taşpınar

https://doi.org/10.31459/turkjkin.1501419

Abstract

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) has recently emerged as a pivotal phenomenon representing an acute enhancement in performance by significantly increasing muscle strength. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PAP on the median and peak values of vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris muscles during isometric muscle contraction using electromyography (EMG). The study involved 14 male amateur soccer players whose one-repetition maximum (1RM) values were determined in the initial session. A crossover design was employed, implementing both a PAP protocol consisting of one set of three repetitions at 85% of 1RM and a Non-PAP protocol consisting only of warm-up exercises. The median and peak values of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) between groups (Non-PAP and Back-squat) were compared, employing the Mann-Whitney U test for intergroup comparisons. The results indicated no statistically significant differences in the median and peak values of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris muscles between the Non-PAP and Back-squat groups. However, upon closer examination, it was observed that the median and peak EMG responses of the PAP group were higher compared to the Non-PAP group. These findings suggest that while PAP may not produce statistically significant changes in muscle activation in a small sample, there may still be a practical increase in muscle response following PAP, highlighting its potential benefit in enhancing performance.

Keywords

Back-squat, electromyography, post-activation potentiation, PAP

References

• Andersen, L. L., Aagaard, P. (2006). Influence of maximal muscle strength and intrinsic muscle contractile properties on contractile rate of force development. Eur J Appl Physiol, 96(1), 46-52.
• Baudry, S., Duchateau, J. (1985). Postactivation potentiation in a human muscle: effect on the rate of torque development of tetanic and voluntary isometric contractions. J Appl Physiol, 102(4), 1394-1401.
• Bauer, P., Sansone, P., Mitter, B., Makivic, B., Seitz, L. B., & Tschan, H. (2019). Acute effects of back squats on countermovement jump performance across multiple sets of a contrast training protocol in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res, 33(4), 995-1000.
• Beato, M., Stiff, A., & Coratella, G. (2021). Effects of postactivation potentiation after an eccentric overload bout on countermovement jump and lower-limb muscle strength. J Strength Cond Res, 35(7), 1825-1832.
• Blazevich, A. J., & Babault, N. (2019). Post-activation potentiation versus post-activation performance enhancement in humans: historical perspective, underlying mechanisms, and current ıssues. Front Physiol, 10, 1359.
• Byrne, P. J., Kenny, J., & O' Rourke, B. (2014). Acute potentiating effect of depth jumps on sprint performance. J Strength Cond Res, 28(3), 610–615.
• Chaouachi, A., Poulos, N., Abed, F., Turki, O., Brughelli, M., Chamari, K., Drinkwater. E. J. & Behm, D. G. (2011). Volume, intensity, and timing of muscle power potentiation are variable. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 36(5), 736-747.
• De Freitas, M. C., Rossi, F. E., Colognesi, L. A., De Oliveira, J. V. N. S., Zanchi, N. E., Lira, F. S., Cholewa, J. M., & Gobbo LA. (2021). Postactivation potentiation ımproves acute resistance exercise performance and muscular force in trained men. J Strength Cond Res, 35(5), 1357-1363.
• Dobbs, W. C., Tolusso, D. V., Fedewa, M. V., & Esco, M. R. (2019). Effect of postactivation potentiation on explosive vertical jump: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res, 33(7), 2009-2018.
• Dote-Montero, M., Pelayo-Tejo, I., Molina-Garcia, P., Carle-Calo, A., García-Ramos, A., Chirosa-Ríos, L. J., Chirosa-Ríos, I. J., & Amaro-Gahete, F. J. (2022). Effects of post-tetanic potentiation induced by whole-body electrostimulation and post-activation potentiation on maximum isometric strength. Biol Sport, 39(2), 451-461.
• Esformes, J. I., Keenan, M., Moody, J., & Bampouras, T. M. (2011). Effect of different types of conditioning contraction on upper body postactivation potentiation. J Strength Cond Res, 25(1), 143-148.
• Evetovich, T. K., Conley, D. S., & McCawley, P. F. (2015). Postactivation potentiation enhances upper- and lower-body athletic performance in collegiate male and female athletes. J Strength Cond Res, 29(2), 336-342.
• French, D. N., Kraemer, W. J., & Cooke, C. B. (2003). Changes in dynamic exercise performance following a sequence of preconditioning isometric muscle actions. J Strength Cond Res, 17(4), 678-685.
• Fukuda, T. Y., Echeimberg, J. O., Pompeu, J. E., Lucareli, P. R. G., Garbelotti, S., Gimenes, R. O., & Apolinário, A. (2010). Root mean square value of the electromyographic signal in the isometric torque of the quadriceps, hamstrings and brachial biceps muscles in female subjects. J Appl Res, 10(1), 32-39.
• Gerosa-Neto, J., Rossi, F. E., Campos, E. Z., Antunes, B. M., Cholewa, J. M., & Lira, F. S. (2016). Impact of short and moderate rest ıntervals on the acute ımmunometabolic response to exhaustive strength exercise: Part II. J Strength Cond Res, 30(6), 1570-1576.
• Jeon, H. S., Trimble, M. H., Brunt, D., & Robinson, M. E. (2001). Facilitation of quadriceps activation following a concentrically controlled knee flexion movement: the influence of transition rate. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 31(3), 122-132.
• Konrad, P. (2005). The abc of emg. A practical introduction to kinesiological electromyography. Noraxon INC. USA.
• Larsen, C. M., Juul-Kristensen, B., Olsen, H. B., Holtermann, A., & Søgaard, K. (2014). Selective activation of intra-muscular compartments within the trapezius muscle in subjects with subacromial ımpingement syndrome. A case-control study. J Electromyogr Kinesiol, 24(1), 58-64.
• Lima, L. C. R., Oliveira, F. B. D., Oliveira, T. P., Assumpcao, C. D. O., Greco, C. C., Cardozo, A. C., & Denadai, B. S. (2014). Postactivation potentiation biases maximal isometric strength assessment. Biomed Res Int, 2014(1), 126961.
• Martinez, S. C., Coons, J. M., & Mehls, K. D. (2023). Effect of external load on muscle activation during the barbell back squat. Eur J Sport Sci, 23(6), 975-982.
• Masel, S., & Maciejczyk, M. (2022). Effects of post-activation performance enhancement on jump performance in elite volleyball players. Appl. Sci, 12(18), 9054.
• Macintosh BR, Robillard ME, Tomaras EK. (2012). Should postactivation potentiation be the goal of your warm-up? Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 37(3), 546-550.
• Merletti, R., & Conte, L. R. L. (1997). Surface EMG signal processing during isometric contractions. J Electromyogr Kinesiol, 7(4), 241-250.
• 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. Sports Med, 46(2), 231-240.
• Skurvydas, A., Jurgelaitiene, G., Kamandulis, S., Mickeviciene, D., Brazaitis, M., Valanciene, D., Karanauskiene, D., Mickevicius, M., & Mamkus, G. (2019). What are the best isometric exercises of muscle potentiation? Eur J Appl Physiol, 119(4), 1029-1039.
• Spieszny, M., Trybulski, R., Biel, P., Zając, A., & Krzysztofik, M. (2022). Post-ısometric back squat performance enhancement of squat and countermovement jump. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(19), 12720.
• Stastny, P., Kolinger, D., Pisz, A., Wilk, M., Petruzela, J., & Krzysztofik, M. (2024). Effects of eccentric speed during front squat conditioning activity on post-activation performance enhancement of hip and thigh muscles. J Hum Kinet,15,91(Spec Issue), 5-18.
• Suzuki, S., Kaiya, K., Watanabe, S., & Hutton, R. S. (1988). Contraction-induced potentiation of human motor unit discharge and surface emg activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 20(4), 391-395.
• Tillin, N. A., & Bishop, D. (2009). Factors modulating post-activation potentiation and its effect on performance of subsequent explosive activities. Sports Med, 39(2), 147-166.
• Timon, R., Allemano, S., Camacho-Cardeñosa, M., Camacho-Cardeñosa, A., Martinez-Guardado, I., & Olcina, G. (2019). Post-activation potentiation on squat jump following two different protocols: traditional vs. Inertial flywheel. J Hum Kinet, 69, 271-281.
• Türker, H., & Sözen, H. (2013). Electrodiagnosis in New Frontiers of Clinical Research: Surface electromyography in sports and exercise (H. Turker, Ed.). InTech.
• Uwamahoro, R., Sundaraj, K., & Subramaniam, I. D. (2021). Assessment of muscle activity using electrical stimulation and mechanomyography: a systematic review. Biomed Eng Online, 20(1). doi: 10.1186/s12938-020-00840-w.
• Wilson, J. M., Duncan, N. M., Marin, P. J., Brown, L. E., Loenneke, J. P., Wilson, S. M., Jo, E., Lowery, R. P., & Ugrinowitsch, C. (2013). Meta-analysis of postactivation potentiation and power: effects of conditioning activity, volume, gender, rest periods, and training status. J Strength Cond Res, 27(3), 854-859.
• Zeller, B. L., McCrory, J. L., Ben Kibler, W., & Uhl, T. L. (2003). Differences in kinematics and electromyographic activity between men and women during the single-legged squat. Am J Sports Med, 31(3), 449-456.