The effects of cluster-set and traditional-set post activation potentiation protocols on vertical jump performance

Purpose. To compare the acute effects of two post activation potentiation (PAP) protocols using traditional or cluster-set configurations on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. Methods. Twenty-six male basketball players were evaluated on three occasions separated by 72 hours. On the first session, athletes performed barbell squat jumps with progressively heavier loads to determine their individual optimum power loads. On the second and third sessions, athletes completed two PAP protocols in a randomized, counterbalanced order: 3 sets of 6 repetitions of squat jumps using optimum power loads performed with either a traditional (no inter-repetition rest) or a cluster-set (20 s rest every 2 repetitions) configurations. After a comprehensive warm-up, CMJ height was measured using a force platform before, 30 s, 4 min, and 8 min after completing the PAP protocols. Results. While at post-30 s athletes jumped lower compared to baseline in both conditions, jump heights were 0.71 cm higher following the cluster-set compared to the traditional condition (95% CI: 0.37, 1.05 cm). While athletes jumped higher compared to baseline at post-4 and post-8 min in both conditioning, jump heights were higher following the cluster-set compared to the traditional condition in post-4 min by 1.33 cm (95% CI: 1.02, 1.65 cm) and in post-8 min by 1.64 cm (95% CI: 1.41, 1.88 cm). Conclusions. Both traditional and cluster-set configurations induced a PAP response in vertical jump performance using optimum power loaded squat jumps, but the cluster-set configuration led to superior performance likely due to the reduced accumulation of muscular fatigue.