The effects of morning priming exercise on afternoon physical and cognitive performance in male rugby union players

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of morning resistance exercise on afternoon physical and cognitive performance in male rugby union players. MethodsOn two occasions (randomised, crossover design), 25 male rugby union players completed morning physical (countermovement jump, 40 m linear sprint) and cognitive (rapid visual information processing; spatial working memory; paired associates of learning) assessments. Control (passive rest) or intervention (barbell back squat, 3 x 3 repetitions at 85% of one repetition maximum and barbell squat jump, 5 x 3 repetitions at 40% one repetition maximum) trials were implemented 5.5 h before afternoon assessments. ResultsDifferences between morning and afternoon assessments were found in sprinting performance following intervention for 30 m fly (-0.08 {+/-} 0.13 s, P = 0.001, ES: -0.75) and 40 m (-0.12 {+/-} 0.17 s, P = 0.004, ES: -0.62) relative to control (0.03 {+/-} 0.07 s, 0.01 {+/-} 0.09 s, 30 m fly and 40 m, respectively). Afternoon countermovement jump flight time improved following intervention compared to control (2% vs. 0%, p = 0.012). Delta analysis discovered significant differences from morning to afternoon in intervention (0.385 ms {+/-} 0.053) but not control (0.405 ms {+/-} 0.057). No changes were found for cognitive assessments (P > 0.05). ConclusionMorning lower body resistance exercise, incorporating a combination of high intensity and ballistic exercises, was an effective morning strategy to improve afternoon markers of physical but not cognitive performance in male rugby union players.