Effects of work-matched moderate- and high-intensity warm-up on power output during 2-min supramaximal cycling

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that compared with a moderate-intensity warm-up, a work-matched high-intensity warm-up improves final-sprint power output during the last 30 s of a 120-s supramaximal exercise that mimics the final sprint during events such as the 800-m run, 1,500-m speed skate, or Keirin (cycling race). Nine active young males performed a 120-s supramaximal cycling exercise consisting of 90 s of constant-workload cycling at a workload that corresponds to 110% peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) followed by 30 s of maximal cycling. This exercise was preceded by 1) no warm-up (control), 2) a 10-min cycling warm-up at a workload of 40% VO_2peak (moderate-intensity), or 3) a 5-min cycling warm-up at a workload of 80% VO_2peak (high-intensity). Total work was matched between the two warm-up conditions. Both warm-ups increased 5-s peak (observed within 10 s at the beginning of maximal cycling) and 30-s mean power output during the final 30-s maximal cycling compared to no warm-up. Moreover, the high-intensity warm-up provided a greater peak (577±169 vs. 541±175 W, P=0.01) but not mean (482±109 vs. 470±135W, P=1.00) power output than the moderate-intensity warm-up. Both VO₂ during the 90-s constant workload cycling and the post-warm-up blood lactate concentration were higher following the high-intensity than moderate-intensity warm-up (all P≤0.05). We show that work-matched moderate- (~40% VO_2peak) and high- (~80% VO_2peak) intensity warm-ups both improve final sprint (~30 s) performance during the late stage of a 120-s supramaximal exercise bout, and that a high-intensity warm-up provides greater improvement of short-duration (<10 s) maximal sprinting performance.

Keywords: Anaerobic capacity; Anaerobic power; Pacing strategy; Pre-exercise; Sprinting; Wingate anaerobic test.

FIG. 1

A schematic overview of the experimental procedure. VO_2peak, peak oxygen uptake.

FIG. 2

Peak, mean, and minimum power outputs measured during 30 s of maximal cycling that was preceded by 90 s of cycling performed at a workload of 110% peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak). This cycling was conducted 5 min after each of three warm-up conditions: 1) no warm-up (control), 2) a 10-min cycling warm-up at 40% VO_2peak, or 3) a 5-min cycling warm-up at 80% VO_2peak. Data are presented as the mean ± 95% confidence interval.

FIG. 3

Oxygen uptake (VO₂) measured during rest (before warm-up), warm-up, post-warm-up rest, and 120 s of supramaximal cycling consisting of 90 s of cycling at a workload that corresponds to 110% peak VO₂ (VO_2peak) followed by 30 s of maximal cycling. Measurements were made under three warm-up conditions: 1) no warm-up (control), 2) a 10-min cycling warm-up at 40% VO_2peak, or 3) a 5-min cycling warm-up at 80% VO_2peak. *P ≤ 0.05 (no warm-up vs. 40% VO_2peak warm-up); † P ≤ 0.05 (no warm-up vs. 80% VO_2peak warm-up); ‡P ≤ 0.05 (40% vs. 80% VO_2peak warm-up). Data are presented as the mean ± 95% confidence interval.

FIG. 4

Blood lactate concentrations measured during rest (before warm-up), post-warm-up rest, and following a 120-s cycling exercise consisting of 90 s of cycling at a workload equal to 110% peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) plus 30 s of maximal cycling. Data are presented as the mean ± 95% confidence interval.