Optimizing Cycling Performance with Unilateral Post-Activation Potentiation: A Study of Intensity Variations

There are limited data on the effect of Post-activation Potentiation (PAP) to cyclists, especially on unilateral movement. This study investigated the acute effects of different intensity (42.5%, and 85%) of 1 Repetition Maximum (RM) Unilateral PAP (UPAP) on subsequent World Cycling Centre-Power Profile Test (WCC-PPT) results due to PAP. Fifty trained healthy male cyclists were selected to participate in this 8-days study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either 42.5% or 85% UPAP group followed by a 6 s, 30 s and 4 min test of WCC-PPT. Power output, cadence and torque were recorded from each test. Results were analysed and compared using repeated measures ANOVA and independent t-test. Effect sizes were also calculated. 42.5% UPAP showed significant improvement in 6 s relative peak power (p = 0.0001), 6 s relative average power (p = 0.0001), 4 min maximum heart rate (p = 0.0001) and 4 min average VO2 Max (p = 0.002) as compared to 85% UPAP. In summary, results revealed that moderate intensity heavy strength PAP is sufficient to give significant impact on an athlete’s cycling performance.