Post activation Potentiation (PAP) (Year 2)

Question 1

What is PAP?

Answer 1

Priming or Conditioning Contractions leading to an increase in functional power performance.

Performing a strength based activity resulting in both Potentially enhancing PAP effects but also a fatiguing effect on skeletal muscles

Question 2

PAP vs Fatigue

Answer 2

Initial strength-based activity–>

Initial strength-based activity

and

PAP = Increase in mechanical
output of a muscle above resting levels

increase in Performance = Processes induced by PAP
– Fatigue effects of prior activity

Question 3

Underlying mechanisms?

Answer 3

The underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully determined

Two mechanisms have been proposed to explain PAP:

1. Increased phosphorylation of the regulatory light chains of myosin
2. Increase in high threshold MU recruitment

Question 4

what are some additional underlying mechanisms?

Answer 4

1. Muscle Temperature
2. Enhanced Hormones
3. Decrease in pennation angle (increases force
   transmitted through the tendon and therefore bone)

Question 5

Physiological Mechanism: Phosphorylation?

Answer 5

When myosin:
—the protein in the muscle cell responsible
for muscular contraction

—becomes phosphorylated, the myosin may have a more rapid rate of binding to actin

Question 6

Physiological mechanism: Enhanced MU recruitment?

Answer 6

Potentiation of H-wave amplitude 5–13 minutes after 
the MVCs (+20%; p< 0.01) (32% at 8min)

Question 7

Passive vs active recovery

Answer 7

Baseline CMJs–>

PAP Stimulus (3x3 reps @85% 1RM squat)–>

passive and active recover (1x3 reps BBT)–>

CMJs again

Passive recovery saw the largest % change.

Question 8

PAP: Conditioning Type and Intensity:

Answer 8

3x3 87% BBP

3x3 30% Throw

Throw saw the largest increase by 5.7% to 4.2%

Question 9

Subjecy Characteristics: strength Levels:

Answer 9

Strength Level
Fibre Type: Type II Greatest Increase RLC phosphorylation post conditioning contraction

Training Level: Fatigue resistance

Question 10

SLED vs TRAD:

Answer 10

SLED 3 x 3 20 m sled tows with 12.6% body mass and 2 series of 3 x 3 20 m sprints (8min Recovery between Sled and free sprints)

TRAD 3 x 3 20 m sprints and 2 series of 3 x 3 20 m sprints

10m:
SLED: -2.50% Change in sprint time

TRAD: -1.00% Change in sprint time

30m:
SLED: -2.50% Change in sprint time

TRAD: -1.00% Change in sprint time

Question 11

PAP conclusions:

Answer 11

• Individual determination of
optimal recovery for enhanced
effects (8 min)

• Initial Strength levels influences
ability to utilize PAP

• You can perform some activities
in the recovery period although
it does interfere which the level
of performance benefit

• PAP can be induced with heavy
dynamic, Isometric and Ballistic Activities

• PAP might be able to improve
performance in a range of events