Introduction: Resistance training overloading the eccentric phase of exercises (termed accentuated eccentric loaded; AEL) has been hypothesized to optimize adaptations to force production and muscle mass via acute postactivation potentiation (PAP). Though enhancement of performance variables via AEL or PAP is equivocal in the literature, it is understood that AEL and/or PAP will result in either positive adaptations or a lack of maladaptations. Purpose: The purpose of this work was identifying any effect of AEL squats on measures of muscle activation in collegiate weightlifters. Subjects: Eight weightlifters (age = 24.63 ± 5.58 yrs; body mass = 83.39 ± 19.40 kg; height = 169.63 ± 8.68 cm; 1.91 ± 0.63 1RM:Body Mass) completed all testing sessions. Methods: Subjects completed AEL and NOR squat sessions being nearly identical to their normal scheduled training and sEMG data from the VM, VL, and BF muscles were collected during the entirety of each session. Statistics: Nested within RMANOVAs determined any session-long effect of AEL squats and paired samples t-tests determined any PAP on activation of the VM, VL, and BF. Results: Nonsignificant differences between the AEL CON and NOR CON phases on measures of muscle activation while trends to increase activation for all muscles were evident. There was also no evidence of PAP, identified by comparing identical sets within each session. Conclusions: There was no special effect of AEL squats on thigh musculature activation and no acute PAP was elucidated on activation levels.
","abstract_html":"<p>Introduction: Resistance training overloading the eccentric phase of exercises (termed accentuated eccentric loaded; AEL) has been hypothesized to optimize adaptations to force production and muscle mass via acute postactivation potentiation (PAP). Though enhancement of performance variables via AEL or PAP is equivocal in the literature, it is understood that AEL and/or PAP will result in either positive adaptations or a lack of maladaptations. Purpose: The purpose of this work was identifying any effect of AEL squats on measures of muscle activation in collegiate weightlifters. Subjects: Eight weightlifters (age = 24.63 ± 5.58 yrs; body mass = 83.39 ± 19.40 kg; height = 169.63 ± 8.68 cm; 1.91 ± 0.63 1RM:Body Mass) completed all testing sessions. Methods: Subjects completed AEL and NOR squat sessions being nearly identical to their normal scheduled training and sEMG data from the VM, VL, and BF muscles were collected during the entirety of each session. Statistics: Nested within RMANOVAs determined any session-long effect of AEL squats and paired samples t-tests determined any PAP on activation of the VM, VL, and BF. Results: Nonsignificant differences between the AEL CON and NOR CON phases on measures of muscle activation while trends to increase activation for all muscles were evident. There was also no evidence of PAP, identified by comparing identical sets within each session. Conclusions: There was no special effect of AEL squats on thigh musculature activation and no acute PAP was elucidated on activation levels.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["MacDonald, Christopher J"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)","degree_level":"Dissertation - restricted","degree_discipline":"Sport Physiology and Performance","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2013-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:20:06Z","subjects":["EMG","Eccentric","Strength","Power","Athletes","Potentiation","Squats","Training","Sports Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1201","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["MacDonald, Christopher J"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-07-05T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2013-08-01T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Sport Physiology and Performance"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation - restricted"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["EMG","Eccentric","Strength","Power","Athletes","Potentiation","Squats","Training","Sports Sciences"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright by the authors."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/2374/viewcontent/MacDonaldC_Dissertation_Final_Grad_School_Edits.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1201"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Introduction: Resistance training overloading the eccentric phase of exercises (termed accentuated eccentric loaded; AEL) has been hypothesized to optimize adaptations to force production and muscle mass via acute postactivation potentiation (PAP). Though enhancement of performance variables via AEL or PAP is equivocal in the literature, it is understood that AEL and/or PAP will result in either positive adaptations or a lack of maladaptations. Purpose: The purpose of this work was identifying any effect of AEL squats on measures of muscle activation in collegiate weightlifters. Subjects: Eight weightlifters (age = 24.63 ± 5.58 yrs; body mass = 83.39 ± 19.40 kg; height = 169.63 ± 8.68 cm; 1.91 ± 0.63 1RM:Body Mass) completed all testing sessions. Methods: Subjects completed AEL and NOR squat sessions being nearly identical to their normal scheduled training and sEMG data from the VM, VL, and BF muscles were collected during the entirety of each session. Statistics: Nested within RMANOVAs determined any session-long effect of AEL squats and paired samples t-tests determined any PAP on activation of the VM, VL, and BF. Results: Nonsignificant differences between the AEL CON and NOR CON phases on measures of muscle activation while trends to increase activation for all muscles were evident. There was also no evidence of PAP, identified by comparing identical sets within each session. Conclusions: There was no special effect of AEL squats on thigh musculature activation and no acute PAP was elucidated on activation levels.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Acute Responses of Muscle Activation during Eccentric Accentuated Loaded Squats and Normal Loaded Squats in Collegiate Weightlifters"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["MacDonald, Christopher J"],"dc:date.available":["2013-07-05T07:00:00Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2013-08-01T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Introduction: Resistance training overloading the eccentric phase of exercises (termed accentuated eccentric loaded; AEL) has been hypothesized to optimize adaptations to force production and muscle mass via acute postactivation potentiation (PAP). Though enhancement of performance variables via AEL or PAP is equivocal in the literature, it is understood that AEL and/or PAP will result in either positive adaptations or a lack of maladaptations. Purpose: The purpose of this work was identifying any effect of AEL squats on measures of muscle activation in collegiate weightlifters. Subjects: Eight weightlifters (age = 24.63 ± 5.58 yrs; body mass = 83.39 ± 19.40 kg; height = 169.63 ± 8.68 cm; 1.91 ± 0.63 1RM:Body Mass) completed all testing sessions. Methods: Subjects completed AEL and NOR squat sessions being nearly identical to their normal scheduled training and sEMG data from the VM, VL, and BF muscles were collected during the entirety of each session. Statistics: Nested within RMANOVAs determined any session-long effect of AEL squats and paired samples t-tests determined any PAP on activation of the VM, VL, and BF. Results: Nonsignificant differences between the AEL CON and NOR CON phases on measures of muscle activation while trends to increase activation for all muscles were evident. There was also no evidence of PAP, identified by comparing identical sets within each session. Conclusions: There was no special effect of AEL squats on thigh musculature activation and no acute PAP was elucidated on activation levels.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/2374/viewcontent/MacDonaldC_Dissertation_Final_Grad_School_Edits.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1201"],"dc:rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"dc:subject":["EMG","Eccentric","Strength","Power","Athletes","Potentiation","Squats","Training","Sports Sciences"],"dc:title":["Acute Responses of Muscle Activation during Eccentric Accentuated Loaded Squats and Normal Loaded Squats in Collegiate Weightlifters"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Sport Physiology and Performance"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation - restricted"],"thesis:degree_name":["PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:20:06Z"}