The role of different rest periods on post-activation performance enhancement in plyometric preload.

Background: The optimal combination of factors such as rest duration, type of activity, and individual variability for maximizing post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) following plyometric conditioning activity (plyometric CA) remains a subject of debate. To investigate the effects of different rest periods (4, 8, and 12 min) on performance following plyometric CA, this randomized controlled study was conducted.

Methods: Twenty physically active men were included in this study (mean ± SD: age 20.74 ± 1.94 years, with a range of 18-24 years, body weight 70.61 ± 3.01 kg, and height 176 ± 1.8 cm). Participants familiarized themselves with the plyometric CA protocol through a preliminary session involving three sets of ten tuck jumps to ensure proper technique. A familiarization test was performed on the first day. They performed in a vertical jump test with different rest periods (4, 8, 12 min) between tests, set at 48-hour intervals and the randomized design was compared to the control group. The data obtained were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests in SPSS 25 and Microsoft Office Excel.

Results: Although no statistically significant differences were observed between conditions (p > 0.05), a consistent increasing trend in performance indicators was noted following 4-, 8-, and 12-minute rest intervals. Compared to the control condition, jump height increased by 2.81%, 2.95%, and 3.01%; peak power output (PPO) increased by 1.84%, 1.94%, and 2.59%; and PPO relative to total body mass increased by 2.04%, 2.06%, and 2.15%, respectively.

Conclusions: In conclusion, the findings highlight the complexity of rest interval effects on PAPE and suggest the necessity of individualized rest strategies to optimize athletic performance.