Effects of acute caffeine ingestion combined with post-activation potentiation enhancement on the anaerobic capacity of male collegiate basketball players

Introduction This study investigated the effects of an acute caffeine (CAF) supplementation strategy combined with post-activation potentiation enhancement (PAPE) on the anaerobic capacity of male collegiate basketball players.Methods Using a randomized crossover design, 24 male collegiate basketball players (age: 20.29 ± 2.60 years) underwent three interventions: a standard warm-up (CON), PAPE with a placebo (PAPE+PLA), and PAPE with 5 mg/kg caffeine (PAPE+CAF). The PAPE protocol comprised a complex plyometric activation set including squat jumps, split jumps, and a 20-meter sprint. Anaerobic performance was assessed via the Wingate anaerobic test, measuring peak power (PP), average power (AP), total work (TW), fatigue index (FI), and the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE).Results The results indicated that compared to CON, PAPE+PLA significantly enhanced PP, AP, and TW (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the PAPE+CAF intervention elicited further significant improvements in PP, AP, and TW compared to PAPE+PLA, indicating a clear synergistic effect (p < 0.001). Although neither intervention significantly altered FI (p = 0.06), caffeine ingestion effectively reduced RPE (p < 0.001).Conclusion This study confirms a synergistic effect between caffeine and PAPE, providing a theoretical foundation and practical reference for precompetition acute activation strategies for male basketball players.