INTRODUCTION: Post-activation potential (PAP) is a phenomenon in which neuromuscular performance characteristics are enhanced after intense contractile stimulation. Previous studies have documented that muscle twitch force can increase through a preceding dynamic conditioning stimulus. However, there is little research regarding the effects of aerobic exercise on subsequent neuromuscular performance in young soccer players. This study examined the effect of pubertal status on PAP after maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test in young soccer players. METHODS: A total of 48 males aged 10-18 years (13.8 ± 2.3 years) were divided into three groups: pre-pubescent (n= 13, 11.2 ± 1.5 years); pubescent (n=15, 13.1 ± 0.8 years); and post-pubescent (n=20, 15.9 ± 1.3 years). The pubertal stage was determined from secondary sex characteristics. Participants underwent a countermovement jump (CMJ) test before and after maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test (CPET) in order to measure vertical jump height. The jumps were performed on a contact mat (Elite Jump, S2 Sports, São Paulo, Brazil). The obtained flight time (t) was used to estimate the jump height (h) (i.e., h = gt²/8), where "g" is the gravitational acceleration. The PAP was assessed after CPET at 5 minutes of the recovery by calculating the difference between pre- and post-exercise CMJ height. The CPET (Cortex, Metalyzer IIIB, Leipzig, Germany) was performed on a treadmill using a ramp protocol to determine maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and maximal aerobic speed (MAS). One-way ANOVA was used to verify differences between groups. RESULTS: Results are presented as mean and standard error of the mean. Pre-pubescent participants presented significantly lower CMJ height compared to pubescent and post-pubescent participants (23.8 ± 2.5 vs 29.0 ± 3.7 vs 34.9 ± 5.2, respectively). Both pre-pubescent and pubescent participants had significant lower PPA (1.5 ± 1.7 and 2.2 ± 1.9, respectively) than post-pubescent volunteers. Pre-pubescent players had lower VO2 max values (48.7 ± 7.3) than the other groups. However, no significant differences were observed between pubescent and post-pubescent participants (53.2 ± 5.6 vs 53.9 ± 4.7, respectively). Regarding MAS, pre-pubescent participants presented significant lower values compared to pubescent and post-pubescent (12.4 ± 0.9 vs 14.2 ± 1.9 vs 16.2 ± 1.4, respectively). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the enhancement of the PAP after maximal cardiorespiratory exercise test is lower in both pre-pubescent and pubescent children. These findings suggest that PAP effect on CMJ performance is associated with greater twitch potentiation in post-pubescent soccer players.
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Julkaistu Tekijä Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator