Dynamic Warm-up Effects On Maximal Treadmill Exercise Performance In Children: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Dynamic warm-up protocols (DWP) consisting of moderate- and high-intensity exercise movements have been found to enhance strength and power performance in youth; however, the effects of DWP on maximal treadmill exercise performance in children are unclear. Prior to pediatric exercise testing participants typically perform low-intensity treadmill walking (TW). PURPOSE: To compare the effects of a DWP with a TW warm-up protocol on maximal exercise performance in children. METHODS: 11 healthy children (10.8 ± 1.5 vrs) were tested for peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) on 2 nonconsecutive days following different 6 min warm-up protocols performed in random order. DWP consisted of 9 progressive body weight movements including dynamic stretches, lunges, hip bridges, and jumps whereas the TW protocol consisted of walking on a motor-driven treadmill at 2.2 mph and 0% grade. Comparisons between trials were made with a paired t-test. RESULTS: VO2 peak was significantly higher (p=0.04) following DWP than TW (56.9 ± 9.1 vs 52.7 ± 9.4 ml/kg/min) and a trend (p=0.08) towards greater maximal heart rate was noted following DWP vs TW (192.5 ± 7.5 vs 190.9 ± 7.1 bpm, respectively). No significant differences between DWP and TW trials were observed for maximal minute ventilation (70.7 ± 17.5 vs 64.0 ± 10.4 L/min, respectively), maximal respiratory exchange ratio (1.08 ± 0.05 vs 1.08 ± 0.07, respectively) and total exercise test time (640.9 ± 77.8 vs 638.0 ± 97.4 sec, respectively). No order effects between test day 1 and test day 2 were observed for any variable. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the design of the warm-up protocol can influence the cardiopulmonary responses to maximal treadmill exercise and that a DWP can result in a higher VO2 peak than a low intensity TW protocol in healthy children.