Fitness
Post-Activation Potentiation
Post-activation potentiation is a brief power boost after a heavy preload primes the nervous system before a similar explosive movement.
Post-activation potentiation pairs a heavy or explosive primer—heavy squat, jump—with a similar explosive movement minutes after to briefly boost power output. Rest windows are narrow; too long or too fatiguing a primer blunts the effect.
Use for advanced athletes on power days, not every session.
Common questions
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How long should you wait between PAP exercises?
Many athletes rest 2–8 minutes between heavy work and the explosive set—long enough to avoid fatigue, short enough to keep potentiation.
Related terms
Put Post-Activation Potentiation into practice
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