| Summary: | <strong>AIM:</strong> Forward and backward sprint are two types of locomotion commonly used in sports. The purpose of the present study was to examine the acute effect of two post-activation potentiation sprint protocols, including the aforementioned types of locomotion, in subsequent 20-m sprint performance (SP) and the possible fatigue caused by them in preadolescent boys. <b>MATERIAL & METHOD:</b> Fourteen recreationally active preadolescent boys (aged 12.49 ± 0.52 years) volunteered to participate in the study. Boys’ SP was evaluated randomly on three non-consecutive days. SP was evaluated 4 min after (a) a typical warm-up (3 min jogging and dynamic stretching), (b) the typical warm-up followed by 3 x 10 m forward sprint and (c) the typical warm-up followed by 3 × 10 m backward sprint. Τhe Microgate Witty Wireless Training Timer was used for the evaluation of SP and the 10-degree OMNI scale for the evaluation of the rate of perceived exertion. <b>RESULTS:</b> ANOVA with repeated measures indicated no statistically significant effect of protocol on the 0−5, 0−10 and 0−20 m SP (<i>p</i> > 0.05). On the contrary, it was found that the protocols in which 3 × 10 m forward or backward sprint was incorporated caused statistically significant greater fatigue than the control protocol (<i>p</i><i> </i>< 0.001), without any differences between them. <b>CONCLUSIONS:</b> The implementation of three 10-m sprints, either forward or backward, to a standard warm-up does not cause acute improvement in 20-m sprint performance in preadolescent boys, as both protocols cause greater fatigue than a typical warm-up. Therefore, their addition to warm-up of preadolescent boys is not recommended.
|
|---|