Comparison of The Effectiveness of Traditional and Post-Activation Potentiation Warm-Up Methods on EMG Variables of Selected Lower Limb Muscles During Squat Jump

Purpose: A proper warm-up method can be used as a strategy to improve performance of athletes in various sport fields. The aim of present study was to compare the effect of two traditional and post-activation potentiation warm-up methods on electromyographic variables of lower extremity muscles during squat jump. Methods: Fourteen trained male athletes were randomly performed three different protocols namely, traditional warm-up method, dynamic post-activation potentiation (PD) implementing two repetitions of dynamic half-squat with 90% 1RM, and static post-activation potentiation (PS) warm-up implementing two repetitions of static half-squat with 90% 1RM. Vertical jump tests were performed five minutes after implementing each protocol (recovery time). EMG activity of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, semi-tendinous, medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior was recorded. Also, co-contraction index and median frequencies were calculated. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used for data analysis (p<0.05). Results: The results of this study showed that activity level of all muscles in the concentric and fly phases, co-contraction index of the ankle and knee joints, and also median frequencies of rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, semi-tendinous, biceps femoris, and medial gastrocnemius significantly changed in the PD and PS warm-up methods compared with traditional warm-up method (P≥0.05). Also, activity level of rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and biceps femoris muscles had a significant difference between the PD and PS compared with traditional warm-up method in the eccentric phases (P≥0.05). Conclusion: According to results of this study, it can be inferred that the PAP warm-up method may be improved performance of athletes in training and competition conditions.