This document summarizes a thesis that examined the acute effects of performing the power snatch exercise at increasing intensities on vertical jump performance. 10 participants performed a power snatch protocol starting at 20% of their 1RM and increasing to 40%, 60%, and 80% between vertical jump tests, with a control group performing only vertical jumps. No significant differences were found between groups, though a power analysis determined a larger sample size may be needed. The study was limited by the technical difficulty of the power snatch and varying experience levels of participants. Further research with more participants is warranted to better understand the power snatch's impact on vertical jump performance.

1. Acute Effects Of The Power Snatch On
Vertical Jump Performance.
NICK DIAZ
UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC
HEALTH EXERCISE & SPORT SCIENCES DEPARTMENT
A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Degree of MASTER OF ARTS.

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Review of the Literature
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion

3. Introduction

4. INTRODUCTION
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
 Maximize athletic performance.
 Increase strength, speed, power.
 Improve athleticism.
 Injury prevention.
 Improve motor patterns.
 Hypertrophy.
 Aerobic endurance.
 Free weights, machines, body weight.
OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING
 Olympic sport
 Ability to perform the Snatch.
 Ability to perform the Clean & Jerk.
 Maximize power output.
 Increases ROM.
 Increase kinesthetic awareness.
 Technical proficiency.

5. INTRODUCTION

6. INTRODUCTION
 Olympic weightlifting has a strong relation with athleticism and sports
performance.
 Several studies have found increases with power production and sports
performance using Olympic style weightlifting. (Naruhiro et,al. 2008) (William et,al. 2012)
 The power produced from
these movements have
a direct effect on the lower
extremities, which may
transition into an athlete’s performance.

7. INTRODUCTION
 Why use the power snatch?
 There is a limited amount of
research on the snatch
movement itself and its effects on
performance. (Ho,
Lorenzen, Wilson, Saunders, and Williams 2014)
 These movements have similar
mechanics to jumping
movements such as
countermovement and vertical
jumps. (Waller et al, 2007)

8. PURPOSE
RESEARCH QUESTION
The purpose of this study was to
examine the acute effects of the power
snatch exercise at specific intensities on
vertical jump performance.
HYPOTHESIS
It was hypothesized that vertical jump
performance would increase using an
ascending power snatch protocol.

9. Review of Literature

10. Olympic Weightlifting And Its Relation
To Sports
 Hori et al (2005) describes the importance of power in sport, and how
well weightlifting is in enhancing variables such as strength and power.
Weightlifting exercises are now used in strength and conditioning
programs because of their usefulness in developing power and strength.
 Further insight is provided by Hori, Newton, Nosaka, & Stone, (2005). This
study explores the biomechanical and physiological principals of Olympic
style weightlifting. This study reinforces the application of weightlifting in
an athlete’s performance, particularly high-load speed strength activities.

11. Effects Of Olympic Weightlifting On
Sports Performance
 Scherfenberg & Burns (2013) implemented hang cleans in high school
weight training classes. This study compared a squat group (SQG), hang
clean group (HCG), and a mixed group which consisted of both hang
cleans and squats (CSG). Vertical jump performances were taken before
and after these programs were implemented. Significant differences were
found in vertical jump performance for both hang clean (HCG) and the
mixed group (CSG).

12. Effects Of Olympic Weightlifting On
Sports Performance
 Tricoli et al (2005) performed a similar study on power development
using a weightlifting group and a vertical jump group. Each group was
assigned to a training program consisting of weightlifting or vertical jump
exercises, with a control group being used as well. The weightlifting
program consisted of high pulls, power cleans, and clean & jerk
movements. Measurements were taken in the squat jump,
countermovement jump, 10 and 30-m sprint speeds, an agility test and a
1RM half squat. Both groups increased their vertical and
countermovement performances. The weightlifting group however
increased their vertical jump more than the vertical jump group. No
significant changes were found in the control group.

13. Effects Of Olympic Weightlifting On
Sports Performance
 A study by Kawamori et al (2005) had fifteen participants perform hang
power cleans using a force plate. Intensities ranged from 30-90% of their
1RM with the peak power output at 70%. Utilizing proper intensities for
peak power output may be used in weightlifting programs to gain the
greatest increases in performance.

14. Ascending Protocol Using The Squat
Exercise
 Hirayama (2014) investigated the acute effects of an ascending intensity squat
protocol on vertical jump performance. Single repetitions of the squat were
used at 20, 40, 60, and 80% of the participants 1RM. This study consisted of
14 college weightlifters participating in two sessions. One session was a
control group, while the other included an ascending squat protocol. Vertical
jump performance was measured after each squat movement. Hirayama
included a 1 minute rest interval in between the squat and jumping protocols.
Similar studies with similar protocols did not have a rest interval in between,
allowing effects of fatigue to set in. Performance gradually increased after the
60% and 80% 1RM, making the squat a useful tool for athletes who require
high muscular power for jumping activities. The protocol and methodology
from this study were mirrored for this research, replacing the squat
movement with a power snatch movement.

15. Purpose For Investigating The Power
Snatch
 Waller et al, (2007) provides an overview on the application of the power
snatch for athletic conditioning. Waller reveals several techniques when
introducing these lifts into strength and conditioning programs. Utilizing
the power version of these lifts helps eliminate error in technique, and
simplifies the movement. The power snatch is used with lighter weight
than a traditional snatch, but requires a high amount of bar velocity.
These movements have similar mechanics to jumping movements such
as countermovement and vertical jumps. The power produced from
Olympic style exercises have a direct effect on the lower extremities,
which may transition into an athlete’s performance.

16. Post Activation Potentiation
 Acute vs. Long term adaptations. This study will focus on acute effects
that may be found from a post activation potentiation (PAP) effect of type
II muscle fibers. (Hodgson, Docherty, Robbins, 2005)
 Contractile history caused by stimuli may have an effect on subsequent
performance (Hodgson, Docherty, Robbins). In this case the power
snatch was used before a vertical jump test.

17. Post Activation Potentiation
 Post activation potentiation.
 Response given by a muscle to an induced stimuli (volitional/chemical).
 Balance of processes that cause fatigue and potentiation.
 Dependent on intensity and duration (Hodgson, Docherty, Robbins, 2005).

18. Methods

19. Subjects
 10 participants
 8 Males, 2 Females
 18 to 35 years old
 Volunteer basis
 Previous experience with Olympic
weightlifting.
 Six month data collection period.
 Two sessions with at least 48 hours in
between.
 Participants ranged from novice to
intermediate levels.

20. Protocol
 Vertical jump measurements were recorded using a Vertec.
 Each participant was tasked with establishing a 1RM in the power snatch
exercise.
 Two sessions were agreed upon to perform the measurements in vertical
jump performance.
 This study employed a 1-group experimental design with a PS and CON
group occurring in a random order.

21. Protocol
 A baseline vertical jump
measurement was taken prior to the
session in both conditions.

22. Protocol
 The participants performed a dynamic
warm up after their baseline, followed
by a movement prep warm up for the
vertical jump during the CON session.
The same dynamic warm up was
administered during the PS session,
along with a barbell complex used as a
primer for the power snatch exercise.
 After the participants completed the
dynamic warm up, a three minute
interval was given between attempts to
allow for recovery. Subjects in the PS
session performed the power snatch
with increasing loads.

23. Protocol
 1 repetition of the power snatch was
performed at 20% 1RM, 40% 1RM,
60% 1RM, and 80% 1RM.
 After the power snatch was
performed at the prescribed weight,
a 1 minute recovery period was
given, totaling a 3minute interval.

24. Protocol
 Following the rest period the subject
was asked to attempt 2 vertical
jumps, followed by their 3 minute
rest period.
 This was repeated in an ascending
order (40%, 60%, and 80%).
 Subjects in the CON group were
placed in a seated position during
the rest intervals and did not perform
the power snatch.

25. Data collection sheet.

26. Results

27. Statistical Analysis
 A student’s paired t-test was used to compare differences in the baseline
jumps from the PS and CON group.
 No significance was found in this trial, requiring additional analyses of
condition and trials. A univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used
to determine changes in jump height in the PS and CON conditions
among all trials.
 Level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.
 An effects size was taken from both groups and used in a power analysis.

28.  10 participants were recorded for this
study.
 Each participant attended two
sessions, each having a total of 4 trials
including a baseline (2 conditions x 8
trials).

29. Table 1. Paired t-test Table 2. Two way ANOVA

30. Figure 1- Average Jump Height In PS
And CON Trials

31. Power Analysis
 When no significant differences were found, a power analysis was
performed in order to establish a proper sample size.
 An effects size of 0.466 was found showing a sample size of 58
participants were needed to find a significant difference in vertical jump
height while using the same protocol.

32. Discussion

33. Discussion
 This study was designed to find the acute effects of the power snatch
exercise on vertical jump performance.
 The main findings of this study showed little to no significance between
groups, however a greater difference was found in the last trial between
both groups as performance decreased in the CON group.
 These findings did not support the hypothesis that the power snatch
exercise would show a significant difference in vertical jump performance.

34.  During the baseline trial (Table 1) no difference was observed. This
supports the fact that both testing session were performed under
equivalent conditions.

35.  (a) the power snatch exercise is a more
technical exercise when compared to the
squat exercise.
 (b) experience levels amongst participants
varied from beginner to more advanced.
 (c) target population was Olympic
weightlifters, however when participants
were hard to find a second approach was
to teach the movements to those who have
had any amount of experience with general
weight lifting exercises.
The following factors may explain why
differences in results were found:

36. Conclusion
 This research was performed to show the viability of the power snatch
exercise in vertical jump performance.
 Individual differences such as training history and experience with
Olympic weightlifting may have affected jump performance.
 Although no significance was found, further research using the same
protocol with a larger population may find more significant information.

37. References
 Ho, L., Lorenzen, C., Wilson, C., Saunders, J., & Williams, M. (2014). Reviewing current knowledge in
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Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(2), 574-586.
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of hang power clean differentiate performance of jumping, sprinting and changing of direction? Journal
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38. References
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