Effects of Dry-Land Versus In-Water Resistance Priming Exercise on Performance Parameters of Young Female Water Polo Players

ABSTRACT: Brisola, GMP, da Cruz, AL, Belorio, LGdS, Grossi, JP, De Poli, RAB, Zagatto, AM, Esco, MR, and Mendes, OdC. Effects of dry-land versus in-water resistance priming exercise on performance parameters of young female water polo players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-The primary purpose of this study was to determine the effects of resistance priming exercises performed on dry-land with power stimuli (PEdry-land) or in-water with sport-specific actions (PEin-water) on subsequent readiness-to-perform and performance parameters 6 hours postintervention in female water polo players. The secondary purpose was to investigate whether the strength levels influence the responsiveness to the priming exercises. Sixteen young female water polo players were assessed in subjective readiness-to-perform, free throw ball velocity, 5-second maximal tethered eggbeater water polo test, and the repeated sprint ability test (RSA) 6 hours after performing either PEdry-land, PEin-water, or a control condition in a randomized order. In addition, subjects completed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) back squat test to determine relative strength level. Group-level analysis showed no significant differences in any measured variables across conditions (p ≥ 0.193). However, when stratified by strength levels, the higher strength group demonstrated superior absolute values in the worst time of the RSA test compared with lower strength level group (p = 0.01) and the control condition (p = 0.004). Furthermore, relative 1RM back squat strength provided moderate correlations with the delta of RSA mean time (r = -0.515, p = 0.041) and worst time (r = -0.586; p = 0.017) after PEdry-land, as well as with peak force (r = 0.540, p = 0.031) and mean force (r = 0.570, p = 0.021) of the 5-second maximal tethered eggbeater test after PEin-water. In conclusion, this study showed that priming exercise did not improve performance when water polo players were analyzed as a whole group. Furthermore, strength level seems to have little impact on the ergogenic response, as stronger athletes experienced small performance gains after PEdry-land condition, with RSA performance improving by approximately 2% on average.