Impacts of Traditional Warm-Up and Post-Activation Potentiation on Muscle Endurance During the Back Squat: Response of Blood Lactate, Perceived Effort, and Time Under Tension

Background: Warm-up strategies are essential for optimizing strength-training performance. Traditional warm-ups improve neuromuscular readiness, whereas post-activation potentiation (PAP) has been proposed to acutely enhance muscular output. This randomized crossover study compared the acute effects...

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Main Authors: Taianda M. Amorim, Alexandre V. Gurgel, Viviane Faleiro, Thiago T. Guimarães, Estêvão R. Monteiro, Felipe G. Teixeira, Bruno Jotta, Tiago C. Figueiredo, Raquel C. Castiglione, Silvio R. Marques-Neto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/188
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author Taianda M. Amorim
Alexandre V. Gurgel
Viviane Faleiro
Thiago T. Guimarães
Estêvão R. Monteiro
Felipe G. Teixeira
Bruno Jotta
Tiago C. Figueiredo
Raquel C. Castiglione
Silvio R. Marques-Neto
author_facet Taianda M. Amorim
Alexandre V. Gurgel
Viviane Faleiro
Thiago T. Guimarães
Estêvão R. Monteiro
Felipe G. Teixeira
Bruno Jotta
Tiago C. Figueiredo
Raquel C. Castiglione
Silvio R. Marques-Neto
author_sort Taianda M. Amorim
collection DOAJ
description Background: Warm-up strategies are essential for optimizing strength-training performance. Traditional warm-ups improve neuromuscular readiness, whereas post-activation potentiation (PAP) has been proposed to acutely enhance muscular output. This randomized crossover study compared the acute effects of traditional and PAP-based warm-ups on local muscular endurance (LME) during free weight back squats in resistance-trained men. Methods: Twelve trained males (age: 41.3 ± 5.7 years; one repetition maximum squat: 129.3 ± 14.3 kg) completed three randomized squat sessions: mobility with LME (M + LME), traditional warm-up with LME (T + LME), and PAP with LME (PAP + LME). The sessions were spaced 48 h apart. Outcomes included the number of repetitions, blood lactate concentration, time under tension (TUT), perceived exertion through OMNI Resistance Exercise Scale (OMNI-RES), and pain perception through visual analogue scale (VAS). One-way ANOVA and partial eta-squared (η<sup>2</sup>p) were used for statistical analyses. Results: PAP + LME significantly increased the number of repetitions (15.63 ± 3.66) compared to both M + LME (12.38 ± 3.89) and T + LME (13.63 ± 3.82; <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Blood lactate levels were significantly higher in PAP + LME (8.98 ± 3.87 mmol/L) compared to M + LME (5.08 ± 0.97 mmol/L; <i>p</i> = 0.01). TUT was significantly shorter in both the PAP + LME and T + LME groups than in the M + LME group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). VAS scores were higher after PAP + LME (8.50 ± 0.45) than after M + LME (6.50 ± 1.20; <i>p</i> = 0.02), while OMNI-RES scores did not differ significantly between the protocols. Conclusions: Both traditional and PAP-based warm-ups improved squat LME compared with mobility alone. PAP elicited greater repetition performance and metabolic stress but also increased discomfort. Warm-up selection should align with training goals, balancing performance benefits and perceived fatigue.
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spelling doaj-art-1dbe327f57f74c7ebafe04b2f061c3762025-08-20T03:27:22ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422025-05-0110218810.3390/jfmk10020188Impacts of Traditional Warm-Up and Post-Activation Potentiation on Muscle Endurance During the Back Squat: Response of Blood Lactate, Perceived Effort, and Time Under TensionTaianda M. Amorim0Alexandre V. Gurgel1Viviane Faleiro2Thiago T. Guimarães3Estêvão R. Monteiro4Felipe G. Teixeira5Bruno Jotta6Tiago C. Figueiredo7Raquel C. Castiglione8Silvio R. Marques-Neto9Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Atividade Física, Universidade Salgado de Oliveira (UNIVERSO), Niterói 24030-060, BrazilPrograma de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Atividade Física, Universidade Salgado de Oliveira (UNIVERSO), Niterói 24030-060, BrazilPrograma de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Atividade Física, Universidade Salgado de Oliveira (UNIVERSO), Niterói 24030-060, BrazilPrograma de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Atividade Física, Universidade Salgado de Oliveira (UNIVERSO), Niterói 24030-060, BrazilPostgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Science (PPGCR/UNISUAM), Centro Universitário Augusto Motta, Rio de Janeiro 21041-020, BrazilLaboratório de Fisiologia do Exercício (LAFIEX), Universidade Estácio de Sá, Rio de Janeiro 20771-004, BrazilLaboratório de Fisiologia do Exercício (LAFIEX), Universidade Estácio de Sá, Rio de Janeiro 20771-004, BrazilLaboratório de Fisiologia do Exercício (LAFIEX), Universidade Estácio de Sá, Rio de Janeiro 20771-004, BrazilLaboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas e Experimentais em Biologia Vascular (BioVasc), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, BrazilPrograma de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Atividade Física, Universidade Salgado de Oliveira (UNIVERSO), Niterói 24030-060, BrazilBackground: Warm-up strategies are essential for optimizing strength-training performance. Traditional warm-ups improve neuromuscular readiness, whereas post-activation potentiation (PAP) has been proposed to acutely enhance muscular output. This randomized crossover study compared the acute effects of traditional and PAP-based warm-ups on local muscular endurance (LME) during free weight back squats in resistance-trained men. Methods: Twelve trained males (age: 41.3 ± 5.7 years; one repetition maximum squat: 129.3 ± 14.3 kg) completed three randomized squat sessions: mobility with LME (M + LME), traditional warm-up with LME (T + LME), and PAP with LME (PAP + LME). The sessions were spaced 48 h apart. Outcomes included the number of repetitions, blood lactate concentration, time under tension (TUT), perceived exertion through OMNI Resistance Exercise Scale (OMNI-RES), and pain perception through visual analogue scale (VAS). One-way ANOVA and partial eta-squared (η<sup>2</sup>p) were used for statistical analyses. Results: PAP + LME significantly increased the number of repetitions (15.63 ± 3.66) compared to both M + LME (12.38 ± 3.89) and T + LME (13.63 ± 3.82; <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Blood lactate levels were significantly higher in PAP + LME (8.98 ± 3.87 mmol/L) compared to M + LME (5.08 ± 0.97 mmol/L; <i>p</i> = 0.01). TUT was significantly shorter in both the PAP + LME and T + LME groups than in the M + LME group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). VAS scores were higher after PAP + LME (8.50 ± 0.45) than after M + LME (6.50 ± 1.20; <i>p</i> = 0.02), while OMNI-RES scores did not differ significantly between the protocols. Conclusions: Both traditional and PAP-based warm-ups improved squat LME compared with mobility alone. PAP elicited greater repetition performance and metabolic stress but also increased discomfort. Warm-up selection should align with training goals, balancing performance benefits and perceived fatigue.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/188post-activation potentiationwarm-up strategiesmuscular enduranceback squatlactateperceived exertion
spellingShingle Taianda M. Amorim
Alexandre V. Gurgel
Viviane Faleiro
Thiago T. Guimarães
Estêvão R. Monteiro
Felipe G. Teixeira
Bruno Jotta
Tiago C. Figueiredo
Raquel C. Castiglione
Silvio R. Marques-Neto
Impacts of Traditional Warm-Up and Post-Activation Potentiation on Muscle Endurance During the Back Squat: Response of Blood Lactate, Perceived Effort, and Time Under Tension
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
post-activation potentiation
warm-up strategies
muscular endurance
back squat
lactate
perceived exertion
title Impacts of Traditional Warm-Up and Post-Activation Potentiation on Muscle Endurance During the Back Squat: Response of Blood Lactate, Perceived Effort, and Time Under Tension
title_full Impacts of Traditional Warm-Up and Post-Activation Potentiation on Muscle Endurance During the Back Squat: Response of Blood Lactate, Perceived Effort, and Time Under Tension
title_fullStr Impacts of Traditional Warm-Up and Post-Activation Potentiation on Muscle Endurance During the Back Squat: Response of Blood Lactate, Perceived Effort, and Time Under Tension
title_full_unstemmed Impacts of Traditional Warm-Up and Post-Activation Potentiation on Muscle Endurance During the Back Squat: Response of Blood Lactate, Perceived Effort, and Time Under Tension
title_short Impacts of Traditional Warm-Up and Post-Activation Potentiation on Muscle Endurance During the Back Squat: Response of Blood Lactate, Perceived Effort, and Time Under Tension
title_sort impacts of traditional warm up and post activation potentiation on muscle endurance during the back squat response of blood lactate perceived effort and time under tension
topic post-activation potentiation
warm-up strategies
muscular endurance
back squat
lactate
perceived exertion
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/188
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