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Background <p>Variable resistance training (VRT) has been proposed as a practical conditioning strategy to acutely enhance subsequent performance, but the evidence for its ability to induce post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) remains inconsistent. This study systematically quantified the acute effect of VRT on PAPE using a systematic review with a three-level meta-analysis and explored key moderating variables.</p> Methods <p>Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases. Given the nested effect sizes within studies, a three-level meta-analysis model was employed to calculate Hedges’ g, supplemented by subgroup analyses and meta-regression.</p> Results <p>Thirteen studies (95 effect sizes) were ultimately included. Main effects analysis revealed a significant modest effect of VRT on PAPE (k = 95, g = 0.27, <i>p</i> = 0.0016), though with substantial heterogeneity (I²= 60.1%). Subgroup analysis indicated significant modest improvements in jump performance: Tier-3 participants (g = 0.22) exhibited significant PAPE effects, whereas Tier-2 showed no significant effect; furthermore, PAPE effects were significant for multi-set training (g = 0.43, <i>p</i> = 0.002) and for equal intensity VRT designs (g = 0.39, <i>p</i> = 0.003).</p> Conclusion <p>Acute VRT constitutes an effective strategy for inducing PAPE, yielding small to moderate positive effects. For the acute elicitation of PAPE, high-level athletes may benefit from using VRT during warm-ups or complex training, particularly when multiple sets, an equal-intensity design, and a relatively high proportion (≥ 30%) of variable resistance loading are applied.</p>

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The Effect of Variable Resistance Training on Post-Activation Performance Enhancement: A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月17日

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  • Zhijie Yan,
  • Shengfa Lin,
  • Junchen Wu,
  • Xiaolan Yi,
  • Jianxiu Liu,
  • Ruidong Liu

摘要

Background

Variable resistance training (VRT) has been proposed as a practical conditioning strategy to acutely enhance subsequent performance, but the evidence for its ability to induce post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) remains inconsistent. This study systematically quantified the acute effect of VRT on PAPE using a systematic review with a three-level meta-analysis and explored key moderating variables.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases. Given the nested effect sizes within studies, a three-level meta-analysis model was employed to calculate Hedges’ g, supplemented by subgroup analyses and meta-regression.

Results

Thirteen studies (95 effect sizes) were ultimately included. Main effects analysis revealed a significant modest effect of VRT on PAPE (k = 95, g = 0.27, p = 0.0016), though with substantial heterogeneity (I²= 60.1%). Subgroup analysis indicated significant modest improvements in jump performance: Tier-3 participants (g = 0.22) exhibited significant PAPE effects, whereas Tier-2 showed no significant effect; furthermore, PAPE effects were significant for multi-set training (g = 0.43, p = 0.002) and for equal intensity VRT designs (g = 0.39, p = 0.003).

Conclusion

Acute VRT constitutes an effective strategy for inducing PAPE, yielding small to moderate positive effects. For the acute elicitation of PAPE, high-level athletes may benefit from using VRT during warm-ups or complex training, particularly when multiple sets, an equal-intensity design, and a relatively high proportion (≥ 30%) of variable resistance loading are applied.