The Acute Effects Of Hip Thrust and Glute Bridge Exercises With Different Loads on Sprint Performance and Horizontal Force–Velocity Profile in Adolescent Soccer Players: A Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Approach

Abstract

This study examines the acute effects of post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) with different loads (84% and 60% 1-RM) and exercises (hip thrust; HT and glute bridge; GB) on sprint performance (SP) and horizontal force–velocity (HF–V) profile components in adolescent male soccer players. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups: hip thrust group (HTG; n = 13), glute bridge group (GBG; n = 13), and control group (CG; n = 14). Sprint tests at distances of 10, 20, and 30 m were conducted pre-PAPE and post-PAPE protocols with a 7 min rest period. HTG and GBG executed HT and GB exercises at 84% and 60% of their 1-RM loads. Hedge's g was computed to assess within-group (pre-PAPE vs. post-PAPE) comparisons (Within-ES) and between-group (post-PAPE protocols) comparisons (Between-ES). PAPE protocols at 84% and 60% 1-RM loads demonstrated moderate effects on F0_rel, P_maxrel, FV_slope, and D_RF and small effects on V₀, RF_max, and S_20m in both HTG and GBG. Conversely, the CG exhibited trivial effects across parameters. Compared to the HTG 84% 1-RM protocol, the GBG 84% 1-RM protocol showed small effects on V₀ and S_10m. The HTG 60% 1-RM protocol had a small effect on RF_max compared to both GBG 84% and 60% 1-RM protocols. Both HTG and GBG 84% and 60% 1-RM protocols demonstrated small effects on S_30m compared to the CG. These findings suggest that GB exercises may offer a viable alternative to HT exercises for eliciting PAPE effects, particularly in enhancing SP and related mechanics in adolescent soccer players.