Sports Med Rehabil J | Volume 2, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access

The Effects of Acute Bilateral and Unilateral Set Protocols on Muscle Power and Rate of Force Development

Kurt J Sollanek², Scott W Talpey² and Bülent Sökmen^1*

¹Department of Kinesiology, Sonoma State University, USA
²Departmentof Health Sciences and Psychology, Health Federation University, Australia

^*Correspondance to: Kurt Sollanek 

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Abstract

Post Activation Potentiation (PAP) is used to improve the force generating capacity of skeletal muscles. However, no studies have examined if there is a difference in PAP response when comparing a unilateral versus a bilateral conditioning exercise. This is important because differences exist in muscle activation when comparing unilateral and bilateral exercises. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to determine if a unilateral exercise would cause a different PAP response compared to a bilateral exercise. Ten recreationally trained males participated (mean ± SD; age = 21.9 ± 2.1 yrs; body mass = 83.3 ± 10.5 kg; height = 1.8 ± 0.1 m; BMI = 25.8 ± 3.2; percent body fat = 14.8 ± 3.5%). Following a familiarization period and baseline strength testing all subjects completed 3 trials: unilateral, bilateral and control. Each trial consisted of a conditioning activity (4 reps at the 5RM load) followed by a maximal voluntary isometric leg extension contraction (60^° knee extension) 7 minutes after finishing the conditioning activity. Neither conditioning activity (unilateral or bilateral squat) resulted in an increased peak torque value expressed in absolute or relative values as compared to control. Interestingly, following both conditioning activities, there was an increased time to reach half peak torque compared with the control trials (P <0.05). Our results demonstrated that neither conditioning activity prior to a maximal voluntary isometric contraction caused a PAP response. However, both conditioning activities appeared to cause residual fatigue.

Citation:

Sollanek KJ, Talpey SW, Sökmen B. The Effects of Acute Bilateral and Unilateral Set Protocols on Muscle Power and Rate of Force Development. Sports Med Rehabil J. 2017; 2(1): 1012.