Does Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE) occur with strength exercises on unstable surfaces? Effects on jump and sprint performance in a randomized crossover trial

Introduction: The effect of Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE) has been inves-tigated using various strength exercises and training equipment. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of dynamic strength exercises on unstable plat-forms on jump ability and linear speed in jumping athletes and university sprinters.Methodology: A randomized controlled crossover design was implemented with fifteen athletes from the University of Antioquia. All participants had at least six weeks of training experience, though variability in training years was considered a potential factor influencing results. The study lasted three weeks, with two randomized interventions.Participants initially completed three familiarization of strength exercises on unstable plat-forms. Pre-tests measuring 20-meter sprint and countermovement jump were then conducted. Two groups were formed: Group A performed a standard warm-up, while Group B completed three sets of eight repetitions of strength exercises on Bosu with two minutes of recovery. Post-tests were administered at 0, 5, 9, and 12 minutes after intervention. Following a seven-day washout period, groups switched protocols, and tests were repeated. A blinded statistical ana-lyst used repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey tests for comparisons, with graphical analysis conducted in R Studio.Results: Both protocols significantly improved countermovement jump and sprint performance (p < 0.001). However, the experimental group exhibited immediate sprint potentiation, whereas the control group experienced it at minute 9 (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Strength warm-ups on unstable platforms produce similar Post-Activation Perfor-mance Enhancement effects to stable dynamic warm-ups on neuromuscular variables such as countermovement jump and sprint.