Effect of Time of Day on Post-Activation Performance Enhancement in Resistance Trained Individuals

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates the influence of time of day (TOD) on post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance.

Methods

Fifteen resistance-trained participants (27.1 ± 5.1 years, 11 males and 4 females, 1-repetition-max (1-RM) back squat = 1.81× BW) were recruited. Using a crossover, counterbalanced study design, CMJ was measured before and after 3 sets of 85% 1-RM barbell squat in the morning and evening. Post-conditioning activity jump height (JH), modified reactive strength index (RSI_mod), time to take-off (TTO), peak power (P_peak) and mean concentric power (P_conc) were recorded at 10 s, 4, 8, 12 and 16 min of recovery.

Results

Factorial repeated measures analysis of variance on baseline and best CMJ identified TOD x time interaction effects in JH (P = 0.032, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\usepackage{amsmath}\usepackage{wasysym}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{upgreek}\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}\begin{document}$${\eta }_{p}^{2}$$\end{document}= 0.29) and RSI_mod (P = 0.029, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\usepackage{amsmath}\usepackage{wasysym}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{upgreek}\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}\begin{document}$${\eta }_{p}^{2}$$\end{document}= 0.30). Moreover, baseline CMJ height (P = 0.008) and RSI_mod (P = 0.006) were higher in the evening vs. morning. While similar performance (i.e. number of repetitions and average concentric velocity) and fatigue indicators (i.e. rating of perceived exertion and velocity loss) during squat were reported in both sessions, subjects exhibited CMJ performance decline in JH, RSI_mod, P_peak and P_conc in the evening. Additionally, high inter-individual response in CMJ performance and time course at different TOD were also reported.

Conclusion

Results suggested that TOD moderated the magnitude of PAPE, with greater potentiation in the morning despite greater evening baseline performance. Baseline evening superiority in CMJ performance did not translate to enhanced potentiation in subsequent jumps.

Keywords

Potentiation / Diurnal variation / Countermovement jump / Training performance / Complex training

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Beijing Sport University