Acute Effect of Intracontrast Rest Redistribution Within Complex-Contrast Training Set Strategies on Vertical Jump Propulsive Force

Abstract – Houlton, LJ, Moody, JA, Bampouras, TM, and Esformes, JI. Acute effect of intracontrast rest redistribution within complex-contrast training set strategies on vertical jump propulsive force. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2026—Complex-contrast training (CCT), whereby high-load conditioning activities (CA) and low load explosive activities are alternated set-by-set, enhances explosive performance through postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE). However, intracontrast rest periods (ICRP) typically required for PAPE to manifest are too lengthy in practice. This study, therefore, assessed the effect of rest redistribution (RR) of the ICRP on subsequent propulsive force application during countermovement jumps and squat jumps. Seventeen male subjects completed 5 interventions per jump type across 5 data collection sessions in a counterbalanced, cross-sectional design. Interventions consisted of 5 total contrast rest periods (TCRP; 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 seconds). Each TCRP was defined as the sum of ICRP and RR. Thus TCRPs were partitioned as 30, 90, 150, 210, 270 seconds ICRP respectively, and 30 seconds of redistributed rest, partitioned between CA repetitions. Within interventions, subjects performed a control condition consisting of 1 set of vertical jumps (BASELINE), the assigned ICRP, then a second set of jumps (PRE-BS). This was followed by an experimental condition consisting of a high-load CA (3-repetition maximum back squats), performed with 15 seconds between repetitions, followed by the ICRP, then a final set of jumps (POST-BS). Vertical jump propulsive impulse (J_PROP) and related force–time components were assessed. Results showed no meaningful change in J_PROP, suggesting overall jump performance was unaffected. However, increases in propulsion time, with POST-BS being higher than PRE-BS (g = 1.045, p < 0.001), and significant negative effects on rate of force development with POST-BS being lower than PRE-BS (g = 0.703, p = 0.009), suggest the combination of CCT and RR may negatively affect vertical jump propulsion strategies and limit PAPE manifestation. Practitioners may use RR to maintain vertical jump J_PROP within CCT in time-limited scenarios, but should consider other CCT set configurations to enhance rate of force development.