The acute effects of prior dynamic resistance exercise using different loads on subsequent upper-body explosive performance in resistance-trained men

The purpose of this study was to determine if explosive upper-body performance could be improved when it was preceded by conditioning contraction protocols that incorporate resistance exercise. Providing that performance was enhanced, it was also the intention to determine the optimal conditioning contraction load for enhancing performance. Eight recreationally trained men completed 4 experimental sessions. Each session consisted of a warm-up, 3 bench press throws (pre), a conditioning protocol, and 3 bench press throws (post). The different conditioning protocols consisted of 5 bench press repetitions using 100, 75, or 50% of 5 repetition maximum (5RM) strength. The fourth protocol, in which no repetitions were completed, acted as a control. Participants performed each conditioning protocol on a different day, and the order in which the protocols were performed was randomized. Average power, assessed during the bench press throws, was determined for the starting segment and the end segment (point of bar release) for each throw. Comparisons in average power, for each segment of the bench press 1RM, were made between the pre- and postconditioning protocol bench press throws. None of the conditioning protocols had an effect on bench press throw performance in either of the 2 segments of the movement. The results suggest there is no performance advantage when explosive upper-body movement is preceded by resistance exercise of varying loads. Alternatively, the performance of a set of resistance exercise did not compromise explosive upper-body performance. Considering this, training methods that combine both resistance exercise and plyometric-like exercise may offer a practical and time-efficient training system.