Can Resistance Priming Enhance Subsequent Athletic Performance at Delayed Time Points? Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Purpose

This systematic review and three-level meta-analysis examined whether a single resistance priming (RP) session enhances delayed athletic performance and explored potential moderators of the delayed potentiation effect (DPE).

Methods

Following PRISMA 2020 and OSF preregistration, PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus were searched through 16 January 2026 for controlled randomized, counterbalanced crossover, repeated-measures, or pre–post studies comparing single-session RP with control conditions and assessing performance 1.75–48 h later. Hedges’ g was pooled using a three-level random-effects model with robust variance estimation. Risk of bias and evidence certainty were assessed using RoB 2 and GRADE.

Results

Eighteen studies involving 253 participants yielded 52 effect sizes. RP showed a small positive effect on delayed performance (g = 0.18; 95% CI 0.06–0.29; P = 0.005; 95% PI − 0.07 to 0.39; I² = 5.8%; low certainty). Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested detectable effects in male samples, Tier 3 athletes, jump/speed-agility outcomes, and higher-load traditional resistance protocols, although most between-subgroup contrasts were not significant. Sensitivity analyses indicated partial statistical fragility after excluding influential observations.

Conclusion

Single-session RP may provide a small delayed performance benefit, but its practical significance remains uncertain because evidence certainty was low, the prediction interval included null effects, and findings were sensitive to influential observations. RP should therefore be viewed as a context-dependent and individually variable strategy. Larger, well-reported trials with female and elite cohorts and repeated time-point assessments are needed.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Resistance priming / Delayed potentiation effect / Three-level meta-analysis / Athletic performance / Competitive sport

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Funding

Special Funds for the Basic Research and Development Program in the Central Non-profit Research Institutesof China(2025KYPT04)

Beijing Municipal Office of Philosophy and Social Science Planning(24YTC035)

National Social Science Fund of China(25CTY033)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Beijing Sport University

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