Individual and Combined Effect of Inter-repetition Rest and Elastic Bands on Jumping Potentiation in Resistance-Trained Men.

Nickerson, BS, Williams, TD, Snarr, RL, and Park, K-S. Individual and combined effect of inter-repetition rest and elastic bands on jumping potentiation in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The purpose of this study was to determine the individual and combined effects of cluster sets (CS) and elastic bands for jumping potentiation in resistance-trained men. Twelve resistance-trained men (age: 22 ± 3 years) participated in this study. In a random order, participants completed 1 set of 3 repetitions at 85% 1-repetition maximum for the parallel back squat: (a) traditional set with continuous repetitions; (b) continuous repetitions with elastic bands (BANDS); (c) CS with 30 seconds of rest between each repetition (CS30); and (d) CS with 30 seconds of rest between each repetition and elastic bands (CS + BANDS). Vertical jump height (JH) and peak power (PP) were measured before exercise (baseline) and at 1, 4, 7, and 10 minutes after exercise for each condition. Results revealed that PP at 10 minutes was significantly higher than 7 minutes for BANDS (p = 0.035) and that 4 and 7minutes were both significantly higher than baseline for CS + BANDS (p = 0.008 and 0.031, respectively). No other differences were observed. There were medium effect sizes (ESs) for PP with BANDS (ES = 0.58 at 10 minutes), CS30 (ES = 0.53 and 0.64 at 7 and 10 minutes, respectively), and CS + BANDS (ES = 0.64, 0.78, and 0.66 at 4, 7, and 10 minutes, respectively). All remaining ES for JH and PP were trivial to small. Based on the moderate magnitude of effect, BANDS, CS30, and CS + BANDS were effective at potentiating vertical jump power. CS + BANDS is a more practical approach to potentiate vertical jump power when athletes are under strict time restraints.