title: Are athletes able to self-select their optimal warm up?
abstract: This study aimed to examine whether athletes are able to self-select their optimal warm up and to propose a methodological approach in investigating the effects of warm up on performance. Nine male subjects underwent a free field warm up (FWU) at a self-selected intensity and duration during which heart rate (HR) and rectal temperature (Tre) were monitored. The intensity of this warm up was subsequently estimated from the HR obtained during an incremental test to determine maximal power (Pmax). Performance (cycle time to exhaustion at Pmax), HR and Tre, were then examined following either: NWU (no warm up); RWU (reference warm up based on FWU); RWU-10 (warm up intensity diminished by 10% compared to RWU); and RWU+10 (warm up intensity increased by 10% compared to RWU). Results showed no significant difference in HR (P = 0.37) and Tre increase (P= 0.77) between FWU and RWU. Performance improvement after warm up conditions gave RWU (56%; ie, 5/9 subjects) >RWU-10 (33%; ie, 3/9) >RWU+10 (11%; ie, 1/9) >NWU with significant differences between RWU and NWU (P < 0.01); RWU and RWU+10 (P < 0.01); RWU-10 and NWU (P < 0.01). A warm up intensity ranging from 54-72% Pmax, and inducing an increase in heart rate to 80 +/- 6% HRmax, was found to be optimal. While most athletes were able to self-determine the intensity of their optimal warm up, for others there is still a need for control.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Physiologie des Exercices et du Sport, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Douala, Douala, Cameroun.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mandengue
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seck
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cissé
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsala-Mbala
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmaidi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis