High School Athlete Optimal Warm-Up Time
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63750/4k9tez49Keywords:
Warm-up, infrared thermography, muscle temperature, tennis, high school athletesAbstract
Abstract
Objective The purpose was to determine the amount of time required for muscles to reach peak temperature in order to prevent muscle injury and maximize muscle readiness. This information will inform players and coaches as well as inspire further research.
Methods This study investigated the optimal warm-up duration for high school tennis athletes using a dynamic jump roping warm-up. 14 participants (9 female, 5 male; mean age = 16.14 years) were tested as temperature changes in the gastrocnemius and soleus lower leg muscles were recorded in 30-second intervals.
Results All participants reached peak muscle temperature within 150 seconds, with an average peak time of 109 seconds. The mean baseline temperature was 32.14°C, increasing to an average peak of 33.11°C, representing a mean increase of 0.97°C. Most participants (n=5) reached peak temperature at 120 seconds. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in temperature (p = 0.0202), suggesting that the observed changes were not due to chance.
Conclusion These findings indicate that a dynamic warm-up of approximately 2 minutes is sufficient to achieve maximal muscle warming in high school tennis athletes. Extending the warm-up beyond this duration did not result in additional temperature increases and may contribute to unnecessary fatigue.
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