Degree Name
Master of Science
Graduate Program
Kinesiology
Advisor
Olson, Michael W.
Abstract
Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is a phenomenon in which athletic performance is acutely enhanced after a muscle contraction (evoked or voluntary). Most studies have examined isometric maximal voluntary contraction and heavy resistance exercise as PAP inducing protocols, but minimal research exists analyzing Olympic lifting exercises. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute PAP response of mid-thigh power clean on the tennis serve among NCAA Division I male tennis players. Tennis players (n=6) who were current roster members performed 5 tennis serves before and 4 min after one set of 5 repetitions of the mid-thigh power clean exercise at 60% 1RM. Performance was evaluated by measuring (pre and post) peak velocity [F (1, 57)=1.456, p=.232], peak power [F (1, 57)= 0.799, p=.375], total power output [F (1, 57) = 0.748, p=.391], impulse [F (1, 58) = 3.163, p=.081], and rate of force development [F (1, 58) = 0.531, p=.469]. There were no significant differences in any of the outcomes indicating there was no evidence of a PAP. Further research is needed to study the possible applicability of Olympic lifting to induce PAP effects on tennis players. It appears that the effective application of PAP inducing exercises appears to be highly individualized. Thus, the use of PAP complexes in tennis athletes should consider both the absolute and relative strength of each athlete in conjunction with the length of the rest period when attempting to optimize the PAP response using an Olympic lifting exercise.