Training & movement
B · Reasonable confidenceDoes warming up help you perform better in sport
Subject: Effects of warming-up on physical performance
What this means
Performance improved after a warm-up in 79 percent of the performance outcomes measured. There was little evidence that warming up worsened performance.
Fradkin AJ, Zazryn TR, Smoliga JM · 2010 · Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 24(1):140-148
What does this rating mean?
A solid systematic review with caveats, or consistent indications with a limited scope.
Findings
A targeted warm-up generally improves subsequent sporting performance, provided it is not too tiring and matches the effort that follows.
Who this applies to
People taking part in sport or physical activity. Age, training level and sex are not reported in the summary.
Size of the research
Thirty-two high-quality studies. The total number of participants is not reported in the summary.
What to keep in mind
There were few well-designed randomised trials. Only warm-ups that included more than stretching were counted, and the search ran up to April 2008.
Practical conclusion for REZA
Warming up before a session is a low-risk recommendation with a modest performance benefit, matched to the type of training.
View method and source
Methodology
Systematic review with meta-analysis
Limitations
Included studies are diverse in design and outcome measures, so the exact ideal warm-up recipe cannot be established.
Original source
DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c643a0 · PMID: 19996770
View on PubMed →This information is general education about scientific research. It is not personal medical advice and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have symptoms, a medical condition or take medication, consult your GP or treating professional before changing your training or nutrition.