The effect of post-activation enhancement on the performance of Chinese national skeleton athletes in the "ice push sled"-a first cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the impact of post-activation potentiation (PAP) induced by resisted sled sprint at different loads on the subsequent 30 m ice push sled performance of Chinese skeleton athletes, and to identify the resisted sled sprint load that most effectively enhances PAP for Chinese skeleton athletes. Methods: Seven elite athletes from the Chinese skeleton team participated in four tests with more than 48 h intervals. During the tests, on the first test, athletes completed a 40 min standard warm-up, rested for 6 min, and then performed a 30 m test. On the second, third, and fourth test, athletes completed the standard warm-up, then performed 20 m sprints with resisted sled (RS) at 75%, 50%, and 25% of body mass (BM), respectively, rested for 6 min, and then performed the 30 m test. Results: No significant differences were found in morning pulse, blood urea, and creatine kinase levels among four tests. The percentage of maximum heart rate (%HRmax) within different intensity ranges showed no significant differences among four tests. However, significant differences were observed in ice push sled performance among four tests (No BMRS 5.08 ± 0.27; 25% BMRS 5.05 ± 0.29; 50% BMRS 5.02 ± 0.27; 75% BMRS 5.04 ± 0.28). Post hoc analyses revealed that the 50% BMRS test had faster speed compared to the no resistance (p < 0.05), the 25% BMRS (p < 0.05), and the 75% BMRS (p < 0.05) tests. Additionally, the 75% BMRS test had faster speed than the no resistance test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A 20 m sprint with 50% BMRS effectively enhances the PAP effect in skeleton athletes, improving their ice push sled performance. Coaches can incorporate this resisted sled sprint in athletes' training routines for performance enhancement in both daily training and pre-competition preparations.