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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise
Published on: March 20, 2012
Effects of specific warm-up at various intensities on energy metabolism during subsequent exercise
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Kuramoto, Japan.
Background:
To investigate the effects of specific warm-up at various intensities on energy metabolism during subsequent intense exercise.
Experimental Design:
specific warm-up was consisted of 3 sets of wrist flexions for 5 min, with each set followed by a 3-min rest. The intensity of specific warm-up was set at 20%, 30% or 40% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The subjects then performed a set of wrist flexions at 60% MVC for 4 min as the criterion exercise. For the control experiment, criterion exercise was done without specific warm-up.
Participants:
Five healthy volunteers.
Measurements:
using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy, spectra were obtained from the wrist flexor muscles to determine the ratio of inorganic phosphate to phosphocreatine (Pi/PCr) and intracellular pH.
Results:
The Pi/PCr during the criterion exercise after specific warm-up at any intensity was not significantly different from that without specific warm-up. The intracellular pH during the criterion exercise after specific warm-up at 30% or 40% MVC was significantly higher than that without specific warm-up.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that mild warm-up exercise could inhibit the development of intracellular acidosis during subsequent intense exercise.
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