THE EFFECTS OF A UNILATERAL GLUTEAL ACTIVATION PROTOCOL ON SINGLE LEG DROP JUMP PERFORMANCE

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a gluteal activation protocol (GA) on the performance of drop jumps performed on a force sledge apparatus. Fifteen sprinters performed 10 single-leg drop jumps on three days with a unilateral GA performed within the warm up on day 2. Ground contact time (CT), height jumped (HJ), maximum vertical ground reaction force (GRFmax) and vertical leg-spring stiffness (Kvert) were calculated on all three days. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to examine mean differences on all variables across days. The results show significant differences on all variables between days 1 and 2 and on HJ and Kvert between days 1 and 3 but no differences in any varables between days 2 and 3. This suggests that the improvements in day 2 were due to a practice/learning effect rather than the GA protocol.