A 1-Minute Re-warm Up at High-Intensity Improves Sprint Performance During the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test

Abstract

Although a 3- to 7-min re-warm up (RW) elicits performance and physiological benefits after half-time (HT), a time-efficient and feasible RW protocol is required for the use of an RW in the athletic setting. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a 1-min RW at high-intensity on the performance and physiological responses during the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST). In a randomized and counterbalanced cross-over design, 12 male amateur intermittent team sports players (soccer, basketball, handball, and lacrosse; age, 22 ± 2 years; height, 1.70 ± 0.08 m; body mass, 65.1 ± 8.3 kg; body mass index, 22.4 ± 1.9 kg m−2; VO2max, 53.5 ± 4.5 ml kg−1 min−1) performed the LIST. The LIST comprised two 45-min halves separated by a 15-min HT. Each half comprised repetitions of exercise cycles consisting of 3 × 20-m walking, 1 × 20-m maximal sprint, 3 × 20-m jogging, and 3 × 20-m running. During the HT, the participants were assigned to a control trial (CON; 15-min seated rest) or an RW trial (1-min running at 90% of the maximal oxygen uptake after a 14-min seated rest). Compared to the CON, the RW prevents reductions in sprint performance at the fourth and sixth periods of the LIST (fourth: 2.4%, p = 0.002, d = 1.68, sixth: 3.6%, p = 0.012, d = 1.74) and a decrement of gastrointestinal temperature during HT (0.5°C, p = 0.010, d = 1.41). Moreover, the RW decreased the electromyogram amplitude of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) after HT (12%, p = 0.017, d = 1.12) without a decrease of maximal voluntary contraction force, suggesting an increased neuromuscular efficiency (9%, p = 0.048, d = 0.58). The RW also increased the mean heart rate in the initial part of the second half (4 bpm, p = 0.016, d = 0.38). In conclusion, the RW improved sprint performance, core temperature, muscle activation, and heart rate in the second half of the LIST. The findings suggest that the RW should be recommended for intermittent team sports players when longer RWs are not possible.

The Efficacy of Re-Warm-Up Practices during Half-Time: A Systematic Review

“…Of the 14 included studies, seven were described as crossover trials [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] and five as counter-balanced studies [ 13 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…The study’s samples ranged from 7 to 22 participants (age range: 16–33 years), with a competitive level varying from amateur to elite. Participants were soccer players in seven studies [ 11 , 12 , 16 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ], two studies involved rugby players [ 8 , 13 ], two investigations proposed an intermittent sport-like activity [ 17 , 19 ], and three trials included active people [ 14 , 15 , 20 ].…”

“…Regarding the type of exercise period or sports competition carried out just before and after the breaks, two studies performed a soccer match [ 11 , 23 ], five conducted a field-based test [ 12 , 17 , 21 , 22 , 24 ], and seven opted for a laboratory test [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…All RW-U strategies were performed during a break between two exercise phases and lasted between 5 s and 15 min. The majority of the proposed RW-U activities started after 1 to 14 min of passive rest [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 20 , 23 , 24 ]. The proposed RW-U routine ranged in intensity from maximum to very low.…”

“…The proposed RW-U routine ranged in intensity from maximum to very low. Passive resting was the most common practice assigned to the control groups [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 24 ].…”