The Effect Of Drop Jump Height On Post-activation Potentiation As Measured By Vertical Jump Performance

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is an enhanced contractile response within the muscles due to prior voluntary activation that has the potential to be used as a warm-up strategy prior to short, high intensity activities. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two different drop jump heights on PAP as measured by subsequent vertical jump performance. Methods: 76 male and female NAIA collegiate athletes (19.9±0.2 yrs) completed three different testing session protocols. During the first session, the participants performed a pre-treatment vertical jump test and were familiarized with drop jumps. The second and final testing sessions included five drop jumps with rebound from an 18 and 30 inch box followed by a post-treatment vertical jump test. Three t-tests were performed in order to compare data from both treatments to the pre-treatment vertical jump data and the two treatments to each other. RESULTS: The mean pre-treatment vertical jump was 22.2±0.6 inches while the 18 inch treatment mean was 21.3±0.6 inches and the 30 inch treatment mean was 21.8±0.5 inches. Two-tailed t-tests comparing the vertical jump after the varying drop jump heights did not show any significant differences. Delta in vertical jump height between the two treatment groups were also examined, revealing no significant changes in jump height. CONCLUSION: Neither of the drop jump treatments were found to significantly influence vertical jump performance when compared to the pre-treatment vertical jump heights. Therefore, these results do not support the use of this volume of 18” or 30” drop jumps to induce PAP in collegiate level athletes.