The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players

Mason, Billy R.J.; McKune, Andrew J.; Pumpa, Kate L.; Mara, Jocelyn K.; Kilduff, Liam; Ball, Nick B.

doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000005425

Journal article 439 views 84 downloads

The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players

Billy R.J. Mason

, Andrew J. McKune, Kate L. Pumpa, Jocelyn K. Mara, Liam Kilduff

, Nick B. Ball

Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research

Swansea University Author: Liam Kilduff

PDF | Accepted Manuscript

Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention).
Download (286.41KB)

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1519/jsc.0000000000005425

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of a high load resistance priming session on perceptual, physiological, and performance responses in female rugby athletes. Using a randomized counter-balanced crossover design, 10 highly trained female rugby players (mean ± standard deviation: age 23.4 ± 3.7 year...

Full description

Published in:	Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research
ISSN:	1064-8011 1533-4287
Published:	Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. 2026
Online Access:	Check full text
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71299

first_indexed	2026-01-23T09:47:49Z
last_indexed	2026-06-09T08:53:11Z
id	cronfa71299
recordtype	SURis
fullrecord	<?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2026-06-08T11:52:59.9662310</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>71299</id><entry>2026-01-23</entry><title>The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>972ed9a1dda7a0de20581a0f8350be98</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-9449-2293</ORCID><firstname>Liam</firstname><surname>Kilduff</surname><name>Liam Kilduff</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2026-01-23</date><deptcode>EAAS</deptcode><abstract>This study investigated the effects of a high load resistance priming session on perceptual, physiological, and performance responses in female rugby athletes. Using a randomized counter-balanced crossover design, 10 highly trained female rugby players (mean ± standard deviation: age 23.4 ± 3.7 years; height 172.1 ± 4.7 cm; mass 86.7 ± 13.9 kg) completed a resistance priming session and control condition. Perceptual and physiological variables were collected at baseline (PRE), immediately post (POST), and 120 minutes post (POST120) intervention, with performance compared between conditions at POST120. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models within the Bayesian framework. Compared with PRE, the priming protocol had a larger increase in physical readiness (maximum a posteriori [MAP] = 14.6, 95% high-density intervals [HDI] = −3.4 to 30.4, PD % = 94, % in region of practical equivalence [ROPE] = 9.9) at POST than the control with no differences between conditions at POST120. There were no meaningful differences between the priming and control conditions for salivary testosterone, cortisol, or the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio at any time points. Priming led to a lower countermovement jump (CMJ) relative peak power output MAP = −3.2, 95% HDI = −6.7 to −0.2, % in ROPE = 3.9) than the control condition at POST120. There were no meaningful differences in CMJ height, isometric mid-thigh pull relative or absolute force, or 5, 10, or 20 m sprint times between the priming and control conditions at POST120. These findings suggest that high load resistance training may not be an effective strategy to improve performance and readiness 2 hours later in female rugby players.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research</journal><volume>0</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher>Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>1064-8011</issnPrint><issnElectronic>1533-4287</issnElectronic><keywords>exercise, strength, power, speed, testosterone, cortisol, readiness</keywords><publishedDay>1</publishedDay><publishedMonth>6</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2026</publishedYear><publishedDate>2026-06-01</publishedDate><doi>10.1519/jsc.0000000000005425</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Engineering and Applied Sciences School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>EAAS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Not Required</apcterm><funders/><projectreference/><lastEdited>2026-06-08T11:52:59.9662310</lastEdited><Created>2026-01-23T09:42:23.5378152</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Billy R.J.</firstname><surname>Mason</surname><orcid>0000-0002-4070-3419</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Andrew J.</firstname><surname>McKune</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Kate L.</firstname><surname>Pumpa</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Jocelyn K.</firstname><surname>Mara</surname><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Liam</firstname><surname>Kilduff</surname><orcid>0000-0001-9449-2293</orcid><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Nick B.</firstname><surname>Ball</surname><order>6</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>71299__36272__1d02754b840e4e32aeac53a4e089e092.pdf</filename><originalFilename>71299.AAM.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2026-02-19T13:54:48.4886131</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>293280</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Accepted Manuscript</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><embargoDate>2026-03-19T00:00:00.0000000</embargoDate><documentNotes>Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention).</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling	2026-06-08T11:52:59.9662310 v2 71299 2026-01-23 The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players 972ed9a1dda7a0de20581a0f8350be98 0000-0001-9449-2293 Liam Kilduff Liam Kilduff true false 2026-01-23 EAAS This study investigated the effects of a high load resistance priming session on perceptual, physiological, and performance responses in female rugby athletes. Using a randomized counter-balanced crossover design, 10 highly trained female rugby players (mean ± standard deviation: age 23.4 ± 3.7 years; height 172.1 ± 4.7 cm; mass 86.7 ± 13.9 kg) completed a resistance priming session and control condition. Perceptual and physiological variables were collected at baseline (PRE), immediately post (POST), and 120 minutes post (POST120) intervention, with performance compared between conditions at POST120. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models within the Bayesian framework. Compared with PRE, the priming protocol had a larger increase in physical readiness (maximum a posteriori [MAP] = 14.6, 95% high-density intervals [HDI] = −3.4 to 30.4, PD % = 94, % in region of practical equivalence [ROPE] = 9.9) at POST than the control with no differences between conditions at POST120. There were no meaningful differences between the priming and control conditions for salivary testosterone, cortisol, or the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio at any time points. Priming led to a lower countermovement jump (CMJ) relative peak power output MAP = −3.2, 95% HDI = −6.7 to −0.2, % in ROPE = 3.9) than the control condition at POST120. There were no meaningful differences in CMJ height, isometric mid-thigh pull relative or absolute force, or 5, 10, or 20 m sprint times between the priming and control conditions at POST120. These findings suggest that high load resistance training may not be an effective strategy to improve performance and readiness 2 hours later in female rugby players. Journal Article Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 0 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. 1064-8011 1533-4287 exercise, strength, power, speed, testosterone, cortisol, readiness 1 6 2026 2026-06-01 10.1519/jsc.0000000000005425 COLLEGE NANME Engineering and Applied Sciences School COLLEGE CODE EAAS Swansea University Not Required 2026-06-08T11:52:59.9662310 2026-01-23T09:42:23.5378152 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences Billy R.J. Mason 0000-0002-4070-3419 1 Andrew J. McKune 2 Kate L. Pumpa 3 Jocelyn K. Mara 4 Liam Kilduff 0000-0001-9449-2293 5 Nick B. Ball 6 71299__36272__1d02754b840e4e32aeac53a4e089e092.pdf 71299.AAM.pdf 2026-02-19T13:54:48.4886131 Output 293280 application/pdf Accepted Manuscript true 2026-03-19T00:00:00.0000000 Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title	The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players
spellingShingle	The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players Liam Kilduff
title_short	The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players
title_full	The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players
title_fullStr	The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players
title_full_unstemmed	The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players
title_sort	The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players
author_id_str_mv	972ed9a1dda7a0de20581a0f8350be98
author_id_fullname_str_mv	972ed9a1dda7a0de20581a0f8350be98_***_Liam Kilduff
author	Liam Kilduff
author2	Billy R.J. Mason Andrew J. McKune Kate L. Pumpa Jocelyn K. Mara Liam Kilduff Nick B. Ball
format	Journal article
container_title	Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research
container_volume	0
publishDate	2026
institution	Swansea University
issn	1064-8011 1533-4287
doi_str_mv	10.1519/jsc.0000000000005425
publisher	Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
college_str	Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id	facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title	Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id	facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title	Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str	School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
document_store_str	1
active_str	0
description	This study investigated the effects of a high load resistance priming session on perceptual, physiological, and performance responses in female rugby athletes. Using a randomized counter-balanced crossover design, 10 highly trained female rugby players (mean ± standard deviation: age 23.4 ± 3.7 years; height 172.1 ± 4.7 cm; mass 86.7 ± 13.9 kg) completed a resistance priming session and control condition. Perceptual and physiological variables were collected at baseline (PRE), immediately post (POST), and 120 minutes post (POST120) intervention, with performance compared between conditions at POST120. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models within the Bayesian framework. Compared with PRE, the priming protocol had a larger increase in physical readiness (maximum a posteriori [MAP] = 14.6, 95% high-density intervals [HDI] = −3.4 to 30.4, PD % = 94, % in region of practical equivalence [ROPE] = 9.9) at POST than the control with no differences between conditions at POST120. There were no meaningful differences between the priming and control conditions for salivary testosterone, cortisol, or the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio at any time points. Priming led to a lower countermovement jump (CMJ) relative peak power output MAP = −3.2, 95% HDI = −6.7 to −0.2, % in ROPE = 3.9) than the control condition at POST120. There were no meaningful differences in CMJ height, isometric mid-thigh pull relative or absolute force, or 5, 10, or 20 m sprint times between the priming and control conditions at POST120. These findings suggest that high load resistance training may not be an effective strategy to improve performance and readiness 2 hours later in female rugby players.
published_date	2026-06-01T06:00:25Z
_version_	1868490736002924544
score	11.109323

The Effect of a High Load Resistance Priming Intervention on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Union Players

Similar Items