Effects of Traditional and Velocity-Based Designed Post Activation Performance Enhancement Interventions on Agility Performance

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of post-activation performance enhancement interventions designed with traditional strength training and velocity-based training on agility performance. The study was completed in three experimental sessions with 20 male participants (age;18.10±0.71 years, height;179±6.13 cm, weight:73.25±6.80 kg, training age; 5.0±1.0 1RM;127±16.36). In the first session, anthropometric measurements of the participants were taken, and then 1RM values were determined after familiarization with the T drill agility test and velocity-based training intervention. Participants were then randomly divided into two groups (velocity-based training:10 and traditional strength training:10). In the second session, all participants performed a T drill agility test (considered as control condition). In the third session, participants performed a standardized warm-up (6 minutes) and after 3 minutes each group completed their specific post-activation performance enhancement protocol (velocity-based training: 0.75-1.00 m/s-1 and traditional strength training: 1RM of 40%). Then, after 7 minutes of passive rest, participants performed Tdrill agility tests. Sessions were conducted at 48 hours intervals. The study findings showed that there was no statistically main effect for time (p = 0.095) and group (p = 0.90). On the other hand, although the time x group interaction was not significant (p = 0.105), velocity-based training (p = 0.025) was statistically significant compared to traditional strength training (p = 0.968) in within-group comparisons. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that velocity-based training intervention provided a significant acute improvement in agility performance compared to traditional strength training.