Impact of the Wingate Test on Post-activation Potentiation

Overview

The goal of this trial is to see if using a maximal effort, short cycling test is better at activating muscles to improve vertical jump height compared to a maximal effort back squat. The study looks to answer three questions: 1. will the Wingate bike test create a different change in counter movement jump height compared to a back squat? 2. What is the best recovery period after each test where the counter movement jump is the highest? 3. What person-specific factors predict success of the Wingate bike test as a activation activity for the counter movement jump? Participants will visit the lab 3 times, once to give informed consent and measure their 1 repetition max (RM) back squat, and twice to perform each intervention and measure vertical jump height.

Participants will be asked to come to the lab for three visits. On the first visit, they will perform informed consent, have anthropometrics taken, and will provide data to assess weightlifting history and factors that may influence the impact of each intervention. They will perform a 1 repetition max (RM) test for the back squat in order to properly dose the back squat potentiation activity. Visits 2 and 3 will be randomized; one will use the back squat (control) and the other will use the Wingate bike test (experimental) to potentiate vertical jump height as measured by the counter movement jump (CMJ). In each session, a warm up will be performed and the baseline CMJ will be performed. The intervention will be performed, either the 30 second Wingate protocol which is a maximal effort cycling test, or the back squat at a high percent of the 1 RM. The CMJ will be reassessed at 3, 6, and 9 minutes after completed each intervention.