Abstract
BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different warm-up (WU) durations on muscular fatigue, power output and psycho-physiological responses after high-intensity effort.
METHODS: In a randomized order, twenty-three males physical education students, volunteered to participate in this study. They were invited to perform a 30 s Wingate test after three WU durations (i.e. WU5, WU15 and WU20 min) at an intensity of 50% of the maximal aerobic power. Total power (Pt), peak (PP), mean (MP) and the Fatigue Index (FI) were recorded and analyzed. Likewise, heart rate (HR), oral temperature (T) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded during each session.
RESULTS: The ANOVA showed higher elevation in core temperature after both WU15 and WU20 (P<0.001 for both comparisons) and in RPE estimations (P<0.001 for both comparisons) in comparison to WU5. PM and Pt during the Wingate test were: 1) higher when recorded after WU15 than after AWU5 (P<0.01 for both comparisons); 2) not affected by increasing the duration of WU up to 20 min (P=0.132 and P=0.094 respectively). Moreover, PP and FI were affected by the WU durations with higher values recorded after WU15 (P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively) and WU20 (P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: WU duration of 15 min with RPE estimation similar to 11-12 has a better impact on high-intensity powerful exercise in physically active male. The extension of WU duration to 20 min develops more fatigue sensations and remains not useful for muscular power output.