Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, GIH

Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Post activation potentiation: Modulating factors and mechanisms for muscle performance
Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, GIH, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Laboratory for Biomechanics and Motor Control.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8580-6518
2016 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Introduction: Acute enhancements of muscle contractile properties and performance subsequent to a maximal or near maximal conditioning contraction are often termed post activation potentiation (PAP). Although still controversial, PAP is commonly linked to enhancements in the myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation, leading to improvements in the excitation–contraction coupling. The PAP seen after a conditioning task often coexists with fatigue and is known to depend on strength level, muscle fiber type and age. Less is known about how factors such as static and dynamic changes in muscle length affect PAP, and on the relative contribution of contractile and tensile components to PAP.

Aim: To enhance our understanding of how, and under what conditions, a single maximal isometric contraction affects plantar flexor muscle contractile performance, and other muscle tendon properties, in power athletes.

Methods: Supramaximal twitches were evoked via electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve of athletes before and on several occasions after a 6-second maximal voluntary isometric contraction (6-s MVIC) in both static muscle, and during passive muscle lengthening and shorting at different angular velocities. Several contractile variables were measured from the twitches. The effects of a 6-s MVIC on Achilles tendon stiffness was calculated from torque and ultrasonography based measurements of tendon length at two submaximal contraction intensities. Overall stiffness index was calculated by analyzing the passive lengthening torque/angle curve.Results: A single MVIC enhanced muscle contractile properties and electromechanical delay for up to 5 minutes. Plantar flexor twitch variables such as peak twitch, rate of torque development and rate of torque relaxation were enhanced during shortening compared to lengthening muscle actions, and in an extended as compared to a flexed knee position. Achilles tendon stiffness and overall stiffness index were not significantly modulated by a single 6-s MVIC.

Conclusion: The results of this thesis imply that functional enhancements from a 6-s conditioning MVIC would mainly come from improvements in contractile rather than tensile components. Stiffness changes should be monitored in future PAP-related studies since they may still occur after more extensive conditioning protocols than the current one. Improvements in contractile components subserving muscle strength after a conditioning MVIC suggests that enhancements in muscle power after a conditioning task should be greatest in fast concentric muscle actions, though still present in muscle lengthening. Conditioning should be performed in a position where full activation is easy to achieve and tailored to mach an athlete or group of athlete’s current status and characteristics, maximizing performance in a specific sport event.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Gymnastik och idrottshögskolan, GIH , 2016. , p. 53
Series
Avhandlingsserie för Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan ; 04
Keywords [en]
Potentiation, twitch, triceps surae, knee angle, stiffnes, length changes, electromechanical delay
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-4280ISBN: 978-91-980862-4-9 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:gih-4280DiVA, id: diva2:890178
Public defence
2016-02-02, Aulan, Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, Lidingövägen 1, Stockholm, 12:30 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Projects
Doctoral project: Post activation potentiation - Modulating factors and mechanisms for muscle performance.
Note

The project recived financial support from the Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports (CIF). Paulo Gago also wishes to thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal for the Ph.D. Grant (SFRH/BD/103572/2014).

New version 2015-01-25 updates the previous one by correcting the errors described in the correction list file (errata).

Available from: 2016-01-07 Created: 2015-12-31 Last updated: 2025-02-11Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Passive Muscle Length Changes Affect Twitch Potentiation in Power Athletes.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Passive Muscle Length Changes Affect Twitch Potentiation in Power Athletes.
2014 (English)In: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, ISSN 0195-9131, E-ISSN 1530-0315, Vol. 46, no 7, p. 1334-1342Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

INTRODUCTION: A conditioning maximal voluntary muscle action (MVC) has been shown to induce post-activation potentiation, i.e. improved contractile muscle properties, when muscles are contracted isometrically. It is still uncertain how the contractile properties are affected during ongoing muscle length changes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6 s conditioning MVC on twitch properties of the plantar flexors during ongoing muscle length changes.

METHODS: Peak twitch, rate of torque development (RTD) and relaxation (RTR), rising time and half relaxation time (HRT) were measured from supramaximal twitches evoked in the plantar flexors of 11 highly trained athletes. Twitches were evoked prior to a 6 s MVC and subsequently on 8 different occasions during a 10-minute recovery, for five different modes: fast lengthening, slow lengthening, isometric, fast shortening and slow shortening of the plantar flexors.

RESULTS: The magnitude and duration of effects from the conditioning MVC were significantly different between modes. Peak twitch, RTD and RTR significantly increased for all modes but more so for twitches evoked during fast and slow shortening as compared to lengthening. Rising time was reduced in the lengthening modes, but slightly prolonged in the shortening modes. HRT was significantly reduced for all modes except fast lengthening.

CONCLUSION: The findings show that the effects of a conditioning MVC on twitch contractile properties are dependent on direction and velocity of ongoing muscle length changes. This may imply that functional enhancements from a conditioning MVC might be expected to be greatest for concentric muscle actions, but are still present in isometric and eccentric parts of a movement.

National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-3193 (URN)10.1249/MSS.0000000000000245 (DOI)24389516 (PubMedID)
Funder
Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports
Available from: 2014-01-13 Created: 2014-01-13 Last updated: 2025-02-11Bibliographically approved
2. Post activation potentiation can be induced without impairing tendon stiffness.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Post activation potentiation can be induced without impairing tendon stiffness.
2014 (English)In: European Journal of Applied Physiology, ISSN 1439-6319, E-ISSN 1439-6327, Vol. 114, no 11, p. 2299-2308Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate conditioning effects from a single 6-s plantar flexion maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) on Achilles tendon stiffness (ATS) and twitch properties of the triceps surae in athletes.

METHODS: Peak twitch (PT), rate of torque development (RTD), rising time (RT10-90%) and half relaxation time (HRT) were measured from supramaximal twitches evoked in the plantar flexors of 10 highly trained athletes. Twitches were evoked before and at seven occasions during 10 min of recovery after a 6-s MVIC. In a second session, but at identical post-conditioning time points, ATS was measured at 30 and 50 % of MVIC (ATS30% and ATS50%) using an ultrasonography-based method.

RESULTS: The magnitude and duration of the conditioning MVIC on muscle contractile properties were in accordance with previous literature on post activation potentiation (PAP), i.e., high potentiation immediately after MVIC, with significant PAP for up to 3 min after the MVIC. While PT and RTD were significantly enhanced (by 60.6 ± 19.3 and 90.1 ± 22.5 %, respectively) and RT10-90% and HRT were reduced (by 10.1 ± 7.7 and 18.7 ± 5.6 %, respectively) after conditioning, ATS remained unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS: Previous studies have suggested that changes in stiffness after conditioning may interfere with the enhancements in twitch contractile properties. The present study, however, provided some evidence that twitch enhancements after a standard PAP can be induced without changes in ATS. This result may suggest that athletes can use this protocol to enhance muscle contractile properties without performance deficits due to changes in ATS.

National Category
Physiology and Anatomy
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-3457 (URN)10.1007/s00421-014-2945-3 (DOI)25048072 (PubMedID)
Funder
Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports
Available from: 2014-09-22 Created: 2014-09-22 Last updated: 2025-02-10Bibliographically approved
3. Influence of knee angle on plantarflexor post activation potentiation
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Influence of knee angle on plantarflexor post activation potentiation
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Keywords
Potentiation; twitch; electrical stimulation; triceps surae; knee angle.
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-4277 (URN)
Projects
Doctoral project - Post activation potentiation -Modulating factors and mechanisms for muscle performance.
Funder
Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports
Note

At the time of Paulo Gago's dissertation the article was submitted.

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from the Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports (CIF). Paulo Gago also wishes to thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal for the Ph.D. Grant (SFRH/BD/103572/2014).

Available from: 2015-12-31 Created: 2015-12-31 Last updated: 2025-02-11Bibliographically approved
4. Effects of post activation potentiation on electromechanical delay
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Effects of post activation potentiation on electromechanical delay
Show others...
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Keywords
Muscle; Twitch; Potentiation; Electromechanical delay; Stiffness
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-4278 (URN)
Projects
Doctoral project - Post activation potentiation-Modulating factors and mechanisms for muscle performance.
Funder
Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports
Note

At the time of Paulo Gago's disertation the article was submitted.

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from the Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports (CIF). Paulo Gago also wishes to thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal for the Ph.D. Grant (SFRH/BD/103572/2014).

Available from: 2015-12-31 Created: 2015-12-31 Last updated: 2025-02-11Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

fulltext(4170 kB)4429 downloads
File information
File name FULLTEXT03.pdfFile size 4170 kBChecksum SHA-512
e167cf1d29ce90934719626b15159724c5b90cc34fc07c379ea010cb01f64b8eabf0f8502384147539cd317343e37c0f3bbeabfd37488dce3e69b53545f2e620
Type fulltextMimetype application/pdf
errata(173 kB)140 downloads
File information
File name ERRATA02.pdfFile size 173 kBChecksum SHA-512
f9ec3fe1a8149a4cbfb2f4b9718b20f6002ef6a06f8c46bc1e8cd1df4ac01442299e1fe764d9603d7b9d1e72703e244a9298d7b60a6546be4a88827deea74234
Type errataMimetype application/pdf

Authority records

Gago, Paulo

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Gago, Paulo
By organisation
Laboratory for Biomechanics and Motor Control
Sport and Fitness Sciences

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar
Total: 4670 downloads
The number of downloads is the sum of all downloads of full texts. It may include eg previous versions that are now no longer available

isbn
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

isbn
urn-nbn
Total: 3723 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf