Can Priming Sessions Enhance Performance in Olympic Weightlifters?

Abstract

Introduction: There are many factors influencing performance in Olympic weightlifting (weightlifting) competitions. In most sports the margins between winning and losing are small and the outcome of the competition is therefore more complex than just the amount of training and recovery over a longer period of time. There have been suggested a window of a delayed potentiation after a previous resistance training session (priming session). It could therefore be hypothesized that a priming session the day before and on the day of a competition could enhance performance. Earlier studies have reported that a potentiation may last for as much as 72 hours after a priming session. This potentiation is induced by the contractile history of the muscles, but this contractile history can also induce fatigue. Finding the optimal training routine, the day before a competition could possibly enhance the performance in athletes. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate if different priming sessions could affect the subsequent performance in weightlifting and other power movements in the lower limbs.

Method: Seven male (n=3) and female (n=4) weightlifters were exposed to three different conditions: low/moderate resistance priming session (LR), high resistance priming session (HR) and rest day (CON). Performance in maximal velocity in weightlifting, force-velocity relationship in pneumatic leg press and vertical jump height (generic tests) were measured 24 hours after each condition. Results: There was a significant difference between HR and LR for SJH (p= 0.01). And a significant difference between HR and CON in force from the pneumatic leg press (p=0.03). There were no significant differences in weightlifting performance between these three conditions.

Conclusion: There is findings showing a significant difference between LR and HR in SJ height, and CON and HR in force in pneumatic leg press. Based on performance index, there is also a trend towards LR being the more favorable priming session for jumping height and force velocity relationship. No significant differences were found in weightlifting performance after the previous conditions.