Ib. Stewart et Gg. Sleivert, THE EFFECT OF WARM-UP INTENSITY ON RANGE OF MOTION AND ANAEROBIC PERFORMANCE, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 27(2), 1998, pp. 154-161
Although there is a paucity of scientific support for the benefits oi
warm-up, athletes commonly warm up prior to activity with the intentio
n of improving performance and reducing the incidence oi injuries. The
purpose oi this study was to examine the role of warm-up intensity on
both range oi motion (ROM) and anaerobic performance. Nine males (age
= 21.7? +/- 1.6 years, height = 1.77 +/- 0.04 m, weight = 80.2 +/- 6.
8 kg, and VO2max,,,, = 60.4 +/- 5.4 ml/kg/min) completed four trials.
Each trial consisted of hip, knee, and ankle ROM evaluation using an e
lectronic inclinometer and an anaerobic capacity test on the treadmill
(time to fatigue at 13 km/hr and 20% grade). Subjects underwent no wa
rm-up or a warm-up of 15 minutes running al 60, 70 or 80% VO2max,,,, f
ollowed by a series of lower limb stretches. intensity of warm-up had
little effect on ROM, since ankle dorsiflexion and hip extension signi
ficantly increased in all warm-up conditions hip flexion significantly
increased only alter the 80% VO2max,,,, warm-up, and knee flexion did
not change after any warm-up. Heart rate and body temperature were si
gnificantly increased (p < 0.05) prior to anaerobic performance for ea
ch of the warm-up conditions, but anaerobic performance improved signi
ficantly only after warm-up al 60% VO2max,,,, (10%) and 70% VO2max,,,
(13%). A ?15-minute warm-up at an intensity of 60-70% VO2max,,,, is th
erefore recommended to improve ROM and enhance subsequent anaerobic pe
rformance.