INTRODUCTION: The application of warm-up prior to exercise is commonly used to prepare the body for exercise demands. Dynamic stretching remains a controversial topic regarding the impact on human performance and the applicability in competition and overall influence on physical activity. There appears to be little evidence on the variables responsible for metabolic improvements associated with dynamic stretching. PURPOSE: To determine if a specific, lower body dynamic stretching protocol will have any effect on metabolic functioning and how cardiac variables may influence that while performing a submaximal cycle protocol. METHODS: Twenty-four participants consisting of both healthy males (25.11.2 years, 179.8 30.1 pounds) and females (24.7 1.1 years, 147.5 13.9 pounds) were tested twice, with and without prior stretching exercises. The inclusion of 4 lower extremity dynamic stretches on the first day of testing was randomly assigned. All participants underwent a submaximal lower extremity cycle ergometer protocol for 10 minutes with workload increasing by 20 watts every minute. A 3 minute warm-up and cool-down were completed prior to and after the cycle protocol. Hemodynamic variables were monitored using thoracic bioimpedance device and metabolic variables were collected with a ParvoMedics metabolic cart. RESULTS: When stretching was compared to non-stretching condition, significant differences were found only in the VO2 (8.7 1.9 vs. 7.8 2.0 ml/kg/min, p < 0.05) and minute ventilation (VE) (19.1 3.0 vs 16.6 3.7 L/min, p < 0.05) prior to warm up. No significant difference was revealed among genders based on condition. Linear regression analyses indicated cardiac index as the single best predictor for VO2 (R2 = 0.16, p<0.05) and ejection fraction and heart rate the predictors for VE (R2 = 0.18, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Dynamic stretching had minimal effect on metabolic variables during and after the performance of a submaximal exercise test, however, higher baseline VO2 and VE were seen. These elevations were likely due to an increased intramuscular temperature and improved efficiency of muscle contraction shortly after the dynamic stretching protocol. It is possible that the stretching was not intense or long enough to perpetuate the benefits into the exercise routine.