Designing a Warm-Up Protocol for Elite Bob-Skeleton Athletes
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate how different warm-ups influenced subsequent sled-pull sprint performance in Olympic-level bob-skeleton athletes as part of their preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Methods: Three female and 3 male athletes performed 5 different randomized warm-ups of differing intensities, durations, and timing relative to subsequent testing, each 2 days apart, all repeated twice. After warm-ups, testing on a sledpull sprint over 20 m, 3 repeats 3 min apart, took place. Results: Performance testing showed improvement (P < .001, ES > 1.2) with both increasing intensity of warm-up and closeness of completion to testing, with 20-m sled sprinting being 0.1–0.25 s faster in higher-intensity protocols performed near testing In addition, supplementing the warm-ups by wearing of a light survival coat resulted in further performance improvement (P = .000, ES 1.8). Conclusions: Changing timing and intensity of warm-up and using an ancillary passive heat-retention device improved sprint performance in Olympic-level bob-skeleton athletes. Subsequent adoption of these on the competitive circuit was associated with a seasonal improvement in push times and was ultimately implemented in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
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Transient benefits to physical performance attributed to PAP are suggested to relate to increased sensitivity of actin-myosin myofilaments to Ca2+, enhanced motor neuron recruitment, and/or a more favorable central input to the motor neuron.
“the mechanisms are suggested to relate to an increased sensitivity of the actin-myosin myofilaments to Ca 2+ , enhanced motor neuron recruitment, and/or a more favorable central input to the motor neuron 29 .”
From Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: A review and recommendations (2015) · cites this paper as [29]
Not all studies demonstrate ergogenic effects of PAP; factors such as participant strength, volume and type of preload stimulus, and duration of recovery modulate the PAP response.
“not all studies have demonstrated ergogenic effects as a number of factors have been found to modulate the PAP response (e.g., the strength of the participant, volume and type of the preload stimulus, and the duration of recovery between the preload stimulus and subsequent activity) 29 .”
From Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: A review and recommendations (2015) · cites this paper as [29]
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- Authors
- Cook, C., Holdcroft, D., Drawer, S., & Kilduff, L. P.
- Affiliations
- United Kingdom Sport (GB)
- Swansea University (GB)
- Venue
- International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 2013-03
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 213-215
- ISSN
- 1555-0265 (ISSN-L)
- 1555-0273
- OpenAlex
- W2164749290
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Winter Sports Injuries and Performance
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Keywords
- warm-up, sprint performance, warm-up intensity, elite athletes, 2010 Winter Olympics
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Athletic Injuries, Female, Humans, Male, Protective Clothing, Snow Sports, Muscle Stretching Exercises, Athletic Performance
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