Effects of Hip-Dominant Strength Exercises on Post-Activation Performance Enhancement

This study aimed to compare the effects on post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) of an axial load exercise, the deadlift (DL), and a hip joint-dominant exercise, the hip thrust (HT). Fifteen resistance-trained male rugby players with ≥5 years of experience (age: 22.7 ± 1.6 years; body mass index: 27.2 ± 2.3 kg/m²) participated in this study. They performed two repetitions at 90% of their one-repetition maximum with 8 min of recovery between the HT and the DL exercises. The order of the exercises was randomized, and then a standing broad jump (BJ) was performed. There were significant changes in BJ distance after DL (Δ = 7.1 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.5–9.7; p < 0.001; d = 0.29 [0.16–0.53]) and after HT (Δ = 5.1 cm; 95%CI 2.1–7.8; p = 0.003; d = 0.23 [0.08–0.43]); no difference was found between protocols. In a two-way repeated-measures model, a main effect of Time was observed (p < 0.001; η²_p = 0.707), with no effects for Protocol (p = 0.122; η²_p = 0.162) or for the Time × Protocol interaction (p = 0.326; η²_p = 0.069). DL and HT elicited significant but small PAPE effects as expressed through BJ outcomes, with no between-protocol differences.