Acute Potentiation on Propulsive-Only Jump (POJ) Performance Following Supramaximal Accentuated Eccentric Loading in High School Basketball Players

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute responses of accentuated eccentric loaded (AEL) back squats to induce a post activation performance enhancement (PAPE) effect in youth athletes across three jump conditions: countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), and novel propulsive-only jump (POJ). Fifteen participants (age: 15.6 ± 1.1 years; RT experience: 1.3 ± 0.9 years; relative strength (back squat 1RM: body mass; 1.32 ± 0.3) completed three sessions (one familiarization, two experimental). AEL interventions were performed on each experimental session (3 sets x 3 repetitions, with only the initial repetition of each set was overloaded during the eccentric phase followed by 2 full repetitions of nonvarying loads) (ECC: 95%, 105%, 115%; CON: 60% 1RM) with pre- and post-testing (3 min, 6 min, 9 min, 12 min). Random assignment to either (a) CMJ, (b1) SJ+POJ, or (b2) POJ+SJ, where jump height (JH), net propulsive impulse (NPI) and peak relative propulsive power (PrPP) were assessed for each jump. Three 3x5 repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze each dependent variable across jump conditions and time with a level of significance of ρ ≤ 0.05. Results revealed a significant increase in POJ JH performance at 9 min (+12.26% ± 13.65%, p < 0.05), while CMJ and SJ performance did not show statistically differences from pre-testing. JH performances peaked at 12 min for CMJ (+2.22% ± 7.71%) and SJ (+5.03% ± 12.77%) but did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that male high school basketball players may realize superior or unaffected jump performances at 9-12 min post-supramaximal AEL back squats. In addition, no significant deficits in performance outcomes were found for any condition from pre- to post-testing.