The Acute Effects of Hip Thrust and Glute Bridge Exercises with Different Loads on Sprint Performance and Horizontal Force-Velocity Profile in Adolescent Soccer Players: A Post-Activation Performance Enhancement Approach

Abstract

This study examines the acute effects of post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) with different loads (84% and 60% 1-RM) and exercises (hip thrust; HT and glute bridge; GB) on sprint performance (SP) and horizontal force-velocity (HF-V) profile components in adolescent male soccer players. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups: hip thrust group (HTG; n = 13), glute bridge group (GBG; n = 13), and control group (CG; n = 14). Sprint tests at distances of 10, 20, and 30 m were conducted pre-PAPE and post-PAPE protocols with a 7 min rest period. HTG and GBG executed HT and GB exercises at 84% and 60% of their 1-RM loads. Hedge's g was computed to assess within-group (pre-PAPE vs. post-PAPE) comparisons (Within-ES) and between-group (post-PAPE protocols) comparisons (Between-ES). PAPE protocols at 84% and 60% 1-RM loads demonstrated moderate effects on F0rel, Pmaxrel, FVslope, and DRF and small effects on V0, RFmax, and S20m in both HTG and GBG. Conversely, the CG exhibited trivial effects across parameters. Compared to the HTG 84% 1-RM protocol, the GBG 84% 1-RM protocol showed small effects on V0 and S10m. The HTG 60% 1-RM protocol had a small effect on RFmax compared to both GBG 84% and 60% 1-RM protocols. Both HTG and GBG 84% and 60% 1-RM protocols demonstrated small effects on S30m compared to the CG. These findings suggest that GB exercises may offer a viable alternative to HT exercises for eliciting PAPE effects, particularly in enhancing SP and related mechanics in adolescent soccer players.