The aim of the thesis was to determine and compare effects of performing a standardised activation protocol either using flywheel (FW) or barbell on post-activation potentiation (PAP) and post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). The assessments were performed in eight separated visits in randomized order. On the first and second visit we individually determined optimal FW and barbell load determination, on the third and fourth visit we conducted control measurements to determine twitch contractile properties of the quadriceps femoris muscle and CMJ characteristics, on the fifth and sixth visit we recorded twitch contractile properties after performing either FW squats or barbell squats and on the seventh and eighth visit we recorded CMJ characteristics after performing either FW squats or barbell squats.
Data were analysed using 3 x 4 two-way ANOVA for repeated measures (factor 1: protocol [FW, barbell, control measurements], factor 2: time [1, 2, 4 and 10 min after conditioning activity]). We found that there were no differences between all three protocols, that is FW squats, barbell squats and standardised warm-up, which was the control measurement, only contraction time (CT) exhibited statistically significant difference between control and barbell protocols. Differences were found between measurements taken at different times in twitch amplitude, CT, half relaxation time and jump height in CMJ, indicating that there were differences between measurements taken at different times after the pre-activity had been performed.
Activation protocols using FW or barbell did not result in different changes in PAP and PAPE, nor did they show any benefits over standardised warm-up, which elicited similar improvements in twitch contractile properties and CMJ height.
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