The Effectiveness of Contrast Training on Improving Clean and Jerk Lifts in Adolescent Weightlifters
Keywords:
Contrast Training; Clean And Jerk; Adolescent Weightlifters; Post-Activation Performance Enhancement; Explosive PowerAbstract
This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of contrast training in improving clean and jerk performance among adolescent weightlifters. The research employed a quantitative approach using a quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design. Participants consisted of 10 junior high school weightlifting athletes aged 13–15 years with prior training experience. The intervention involved a structured four-week contrast training program conducted three times per week, integrating 70% one repetition maximum (1RM) loads to stimulate maximal strength and 30% 1RM loads to enhance explosive power. This loading configuration is theoretically grounded in post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE), which facilitates increased motor unit recruitment, neuromuscular activation, and rate of force development. Performance was assessed using the 1RM clean and jerk test before and after the intervention. Descriptive analysis indicated a consistent improvement in lifting performance across participants. Inferential analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test revealed a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest results (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that contrast training effectively enhances maximal strength and explosive capacity in adolescent athletes, primarily through neural adaptation mechanisms.
These results provide empirical support for incorporating contrast training into youth weightlifting programs as an evidence-based strategy to overcome performance stagnation and optimize neuromuscular development during critical growth phases.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mellyana Putri Mentari, Andri Suyoko, Irmantara Subagio, I Dewa Made Aryananda Wijaya Kusuma (Author)
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