title: A systematic review of the effects of upper body warm-up on performance and injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This systematic review was conducted to identify the impact of upper body warm-up on performance and injury prevention outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Web of Science, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases were searched using terms related to upper extremity warm-up. Inclusion criteria were English language randomised controlled trials from peer-reviewed journals in which investigation of upper body warm-up on performance and injury prevention outcomes was a primary aim. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality using the PEDro scale. A wide variety of warm-up modes and outcomes precluded meta-analysis except for one group of studies. The majority of warm-ups were assessed as having 'positive', 'neutral', 'negative' or 'specific' effects on outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria with 21 rated as having 'good' methodological quality. The studies investigated a total of 25 warm-up modes and 43 outcome factors that could be grouped into eight mode and performance outcome categories. No studies of upper body warm-up effects on injury prevention were discovered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strong research-based evidence was found for the following: high-load dynamic warm-ups enhance power and strength performance; warm-up swings with a standard weight baseball bat are most effective for enhancing bat speed; short-duration static stretching warm-up has no effect on power outcomes; and passive heating/cooling is a largely ineffective warm-up mode. A clear knowledge gap in upper body warm-up literature is the lack of investigation of injury prevention outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J Matt
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McCrary
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Bronwen J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D063996:Warm-Up Exercise / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Prevention; Review; Sports & exercise medicine; Upper extremity