Original Scientific Research Study: Identifying the Significance of Specific Eccentric and Concentric training Modalities on Punching Impact Power (IP) Output in Boxers and Thai boxers

The aim of this study was to identify the significance of specific eccentric and concentric training modalities post activation potentiation enhancement (PAPE) on punching impact power (IP) output in boxers and Thai boxers. Fifteen male and one female subject (24 ± 4years, 80.16 ± 11.32kg, 181.72 ± 8.28cm, 10 ± 3.3 years resistance training, 3±1.6years boxing or Muay Thai competitive training) were split into groups at random. The Subjects carried out six repetitions on the flywheel followed by a seven-minute rest period and six repetitions on the cable press with the same rest, before striking the PowerkubeTM . The level of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Significant differences were found between baseline IP and IP following the flywheel intervention (p=0.05) and IP following the cable intervention and power post-flywheel intervention (p=0.013). A Wilcoxon signed ranks test indicated that the flywheel intervention produced statistically significant higher percentage change values than the cable intervention: (Z=131, p=0.001). Paired samples T-tests determined the significant differences between power output at baseline and following the flywheel intervention: t(15) = -2.69, p=0.017 and power output following the cable and flywheel intervention: t(15) = -3.34, p=0.04 indicating that the flywheel intervention enabled the subjects to generate 19640W (±1410) IP with 15.44% (±5.67) compared to the cable press which produced 17475W (±1377) at only 0.92% (±2.91) more than baseline IP 17,423W (±1373). This study identified the flywheel modality that improves PAPE response to increase IP of both Muay Thai and boxers rear hand punch that could be introduced to the resistance training programme leading up to competition.