Unilateral Post-Activation Performance Enhancement in a Bilateral Task

The aim of the current study was to determine the efficacy of unilateral conditioning exercises on post activation performance enhancement (PAPE) during a bilateral task, with particular reference to leg dominance. Over three days, 22 young adult male and female subjects were tested on unilateral and bilateral leg power and balance measurements, examined for footedness using a footedness questionnaire, and performed left and right reactive lateral leaps before and after unilateral conditioning exercise treatments. Response time of the step leg and leap distance from the push-off leg were evaluated with repeated measures ANOVA and ANCOVA with a p-level of .05. Results revealed no effects attributable to ipsilateral or contralateral PAPE effects and no differences in left versus right leaping distance or response time. However, when footedness (right, mixed) effects were examined, differences in performance consequent to conditioning exercises were found. Mixed footed subjects responded slower and leaped further on posttests following CE, but these results were not based on which leg was conditioned. Mixed footers, and not right footers, may have adopted a leaping strategy following conditioning strategies. These findings question the usefulness of unidimensional assessments of leg dominance and laterality in evaluating characteristics of sport and exercise performance.