Acute neuromuscular fatigue following contrast training in university athletes: evidence from vertical jump performance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v78.119041Keywords:
Acute effect, contrast training, explosive power, university athletesAbstract
Introduction: Optimizing training efficiency is critical for university athletes who must balance academic and athletic demands. Contrast training (CT), which pairs heavy resistance with plyometric exercises, is proposed to acutely enhance explosive power via post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). However, evidence is mixed and often lacks contextual specificity. Objective: This study investigated the acute effect of a single CT session on lower-body explosive power, as measured by vertical jump performance, in athletes from the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM).
Methodology: Using a quasi-experimental, single-group, pre-test-post-test design, 30 male university athletes (age: 20.7 ± 0.7 years) performed a CT protocol of 3 sets of 4 back squats at 80% 1RM, immediately followed by 10 maximal squat jumps. Vertical jump height was measured pre- and 60 seconds post-intervention using a Vertec. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for analysis.
Results: A statistically significant decrease in vertical jump performance was observed post-intervention (Z = -4.85, p < .001).
Discussion: This finding contradicts the hypothesis of acute PAPE and suggests that the high-intensity stimulus induced short-term neuromuscular fatigue, overriding any potentiating effect. This aligns with research emphasizing the delicate balance between potentiation and fatigue, which is influenced by factors like training status and rest intervals.
Conclusions: A single CT session acutely impairs explosive power in this cohort. This highlights the importance of strategic training periodization, where CT is placed sufficiently before competition to allow recovery. The study provides critical context-specific data for Malaysian university athletes and underscores the need for practitioners to consider acute fatigue responses when implementing CT.
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