The Effects of Resisted Sprinting, Motor Imagery, or a Dynamic Warm-up Alone on Sprinting Performance in Recreationally Active Adults

Authors

Kimberly Rogers, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UTFollow
Suzanne L. Young, Southern Utah UniversityFollow
Marcus M. Lawrence, Southern Utah UniversityFollow

Abstract

Limited information exists on directly comparing active (e.g., involving physical movement/muscle contractions) or passive (e.g., no physical movement/muscle contractions) warm-ups to enhance sprint performance. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of an active dynamic warm-up with a resisted sprinting potentiating stimulus (DyWU+RS), a dynamic warm-up with motor imagery (DyWU+MI), or a dynamic warm-up alone (DyWU) on max velocity sprinting performance in recreational athletes. METHODS: 16 recreational adult athletes (n=8 female, n=8 male, aged 18-34 years old) randomly completed three warm-up conditions in the same session. Participants performed a standardized dynamic warm-up alone (DyWU), a DyWU followed by a resisted sprinting (10% body mass) potentiation stimulus (DyWU+RS), and a DyWU followed by mental imagery (DyWU+MI). Regardless of warm-up condition, participants completed 3 maximal 20-meter run-in sprints at 1, 4, and 8-min. post warm-up. A one-way ANOVA for each time point was used with repeated measures for warm-up analyses, p < 0.05. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between DyWU, DyWU+MI, or DyWU+RS warm-up conditions for 20-meter fly-in times at 1 min. (2.69±0.12, 2.62±0.17, or 2.63±0.17 sec.), 4 min. (2.70±0.13, 2.62±0.19, 2.65±0.19 sec.), or 8 min. (2.70±0.27, 2.64±0.21, 2.67±0.17 sec.) post warm-up. However, there were sex differences in each warm-up condition for sprint times and rate of perceived exertion/RPE. CONCLUSIONS: Within the parameters of this study, there were no differences in a dynamic warm-up combined with either a resisted sprinting potentiating stimulus or motor imagery compared to a dynamic warm-up alone on max velocity sprinting performance in recreational athletes. Thus, based on our data and previous evidence, potentiating and cognitive psyching up warm-up strategies should be used to augment earlier sprint phases (e.g., acceleration) and not max velocity in recreational athletes.

Recommended Citation

Rogers, Kimberly; Young, Suzanne L.; and Lawrence, Marcus M. (2024) "The Effects of Resisted Sprinting, Motor Imagery, or a Dynamic Warm-up Alone on Sprinting Performance in Recreationally Active Adults," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 4, Article 37.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss4/37