Clinical Research Directory

Acute Effects of Resistance Exercise-Based PAPE in Adolescent Basketball Players

This study evaluates the acute effects of resistance exercise-based post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) on basketball-specific cognitive-motor dual-task performance in male adolescent basketball players. Twenty-one basketball players aged 15 to 17 years complete three experimental conditions in a randomized crossover design: a standardized basketball warm-up, 5 repetitions of the back squat at 80% of individual one-repetition maximum (1RM), and 5 repetitions of the deadlift at 80% of individual 1RM. Each participant completes all three conditions with 48 hours between experimental sessions. Basketball-specific cognitive-motor dual-task performance is assessed before and after each condition using a task adapted from the NBA Draft Combine dribbling test that incorporates simultaneous motor responses to visual stimuli. The primary purpose is to compare the acute changes in performance following the two resistance exercise-based PAPE conditions with those following the standardized basketball warm-up.

Effects of Resistance Exercise Timing on Midday Muscle Performance in Athletes

This study investigated whether the timing of a resistance-based post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) intervention performed during the morning influences muscle performance and muscle electrical activity during a standardized midday assessment in trained male athletes. Participants completed a control condition and three PAPE conditions performed at different times during the morning. The PAPE intervention consisted of back squat, kettlebell swing, and barbell hip thrust exercises. In all conditions, muscle performance was assessed between 12:00 and 12:15 using an isokinetic dynamometer, while surface electromyography (sEMG) of the rectus femoris muscle was recorded. The study compared relative peak torque and sEMG spectral power across the different PAPE timing conditions and the control condition.

Weighted vs Unweighted Plyometric Conditioning on Vertical Jump Performance in Young Male Soccer Players

Explosive lower-limb power is essential for soccer performance and contributes to jumping, sprinting, and rapid changes of direction. Plyometric exercises are commonly used during warm-up to improve neuromuscular readiness and may enhance subsequent athletic performance through post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). However, it remains unclear whether adding external load during plyometric conditioning provides greater benefits than performing the same exercises without additional load. The purpose of this study is to compare the acute effects of weighted and unweighted plyometric conditioning on vertical jump performance in young male soccer players. Participants complete two experimental sessions separated by 48 hours. In one session, they perform a standardized single-leg plyometric protocol without external load, and in the other session they perform the same protocol while wearing a weighted vest equivalent to 10% of their body mass. Vertical jump height is assessed before exercise and at several time points after the conditioning activity to examine the time course of performance changes. The findings of this study are expected to improve understanding of the optimal use of weighted plyometric conditioning during warm-up and provide practical guidance for coaches and sports practitioners seeking to maximize explosive performance before training and competition.