Effects of a Sprint Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Stimulus on Discus Throw Performance in Collegiate Division I Throwers: A Pilot Study.

Abstract

No study has determined the impact a sprinting potentiating stimulus has on discus throwing performance in collegiate throwers. To test the hypothesis, that compared to a dynamic warm-up alone (DyWU), a dynamic warm-up with a multi-set sprinting potentiating stimulus (DyWU+SPR) would enhance discus throw performance. 12 NCAA Division I thrower athletes (18-25 year) randomly completed two sessions separated by at least 48 hours. One session involved a standardized dynamic warm-up (DyWU) and the other session involved a DyWU with multiple sets of a sprinting post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) stimulus (DyWU+SPR), with both sessions followed by three trials of competition discus throws. A two-way ANOVA (warm-up x timepoint) with repeated measures was used for analyses, p < 0.05. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences between DyWU alone versus DyWU+SPR stimulus for discus throw distances at 8 min. (35.7±5.4 vs 35.0±5.5 meters, respectively; d = -0.12, trivial), 11 min. (34.8±4.5 vs 35.6±5.0 meters, respectively; d = 0.18, trivial), 14 min. (37.5±4.5 vs 36.7±4.9 meters, respectively; d = -0.19, trivial), or best throw attempt (36.2±5.1 vs 36.6±5.0 meters, respectively; d = 0.07, trivial). Within the parameters of this study, there were no differences in discus throw performance with DyWU+SPR compared to a DyWU alone in NCAA Division I throwers. Coaches, athletes, and practitioners should be aware that these results do not support the use of multiple sets of a sprinting PAPE stimulus beyond a dynamic warm-up alone to enhance discus throw performance in collegiate throwers.