Effects of active,passive or no warm-up on the physiological response to heavy exercise

Summary Six endurance-trained young men were subjected to a 4 min maximal aerobic treadmill run (100% of VO₂ max), after active or passive warm-up or rest on separate days. The increase in body temperature during the active and passive warm-up was controlled, so that the temperature reached the same level, before the subject was exposed to the maximal exercise. On average the rectal temperature rose to 38.3 C (range 38.1–38.6 C). The standard work resulted in a significant higher oxygen uptake, lower lactate concentration and higher blood pH when the work was preceded by active warm-up as compared with passive or no warm-up. The difference in total oxygen uptake during the run between the active and passive warm-up procedure was 0.8 l. No significant difference in minute volume of expired air or respiratory quotient was found. It is concluded that the physiological effects of a thorough active warm-up may be of substantial benefit to athletic performance.