Time Course Changes in Muscle Temperature and Performance Following Active Warm Up in Cool Environments
Date
2013-08-29
Authors
Kidston, Megan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The effect of active warm up (WU) and passive heating (HP) following WU on muscle temperature (Tm) and performance in cool (10°C) environments was studied. Eight male recreational athletes (29±5 y) with a minimum relative mean VO2peak score of 50mL∙kg-1∙min-1 (58.0±6.3 mL∙kg-1∙min-1) completed two 60-minute sessions in an environmental chamber (9.77˚C, 71%RH). Following 15 minutes of standardized WU on a cycle ergometer, heat was applied to the legs during 30 minutes of inactivity using heated pants in HP but not in control (CON). Core (Tc), skin (Tsk) and muscle temperature, heart rate (HR), and thermal comfort (TC) and sensation (TS) were monitored at 5-min intervals throughout test sessions. Muscle performance was assessed by countermovement (VJ) height measured pre- and post-WU and at 10-, 20-, and 30-minutes following WU, as well as by anaerobic power, capacity, and fatigue measures calculated from a 45-second Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) completed at the end of the 30-minute inactivity phase. WU resulted in similar and significant increases in Tm and VJ from baseline to post-WU (p<0.05). Tsk showed a difference between HP and CON prior to, during, and at the end of WU (p<0.05). Compared to end-WU, Tm was lower in HP and CON at 20-, 25- and 30-minutes of inactivity; however, Tm remained higher in HP at all timepoints following WU compared to CON. This maintenance in Tm during HP was associated with a higher peak power output calculated from WAnT (p<0.05). No differences were seen in VJ performance, TC, or TS following WU (p<0.05). HP can be used to attenuate thigh Tm and peak power performance decline following active WU in cool (~10˚C) environments.
Description
Keywords
Muscle Temperature, Warm Up, Performance, Passive Heating, Clothing, Cool Environment