Acute Effects of Back Squats on Countermovement Jump Performance Across Multiple Sets of a Contrast Training Protocol in Resistance-Trained Men.

Bauer, P, Sansone, P, Mitter, B, Makivic, B, Seitz, LB, and Tschan, H. Acute effects of back squats on countermovement jump performance across multiple sets of a contrast training protocol in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res 33(4): 995-1000, 2019-This study was designed to evaluate the voluntary postactivation potentiation (PAP) effects of moderate-intensity (MI) or high-intensity (HI) back squat exercises on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance across multiple sets of a contrast training protocol. Sixty resistance-trained male subjects (age, 23.3 ± 3.3 years; body mass, 86.0 ± 13.9 kg; and parallel back squat 1-repetition maximum [1-RM], 155.2 ± 30.0 kg) participated in a randomized, crossover study. After familiarization, the subjects visited the laboratory on 3 separate occasions. They performed a contrast PAP protocol comprising 3 sets of either MI (6 × 60% of 1-RM) or HI back squats (4 × 90% of 1-RM) or 20 seconds of recovery (CTRL) alternated with 7 CMJs that were performed at 15 seconds, and 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 minutes after the back squats or recovery. Jump height and relative peak power output recorded with a force platform during MI and HI conditions were compared with those recorded during control condition to calculate the voluntary PAP effect. Countermovement jump performance was decreased immediately after the squats but increased across all 3 sets of MI and HI between 3 and 7 minutes after recovery. However, voluntary PAP effects were small or trivial, and no difference between the 3 sets could be found. These findings demonstrate that practitioners can use MI and HI back squats to potentiate CMJs across a contrast training protocol, but a minimum of 3 minutes of recovery after the squats is needed to benefit from voluntary PAP.