Self-Selected Versus Standardised Warm-Ups; Physiological Response on 500 m Sprint Kayak Performance

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Performance Analysis

Background:

• Warm-up protocols are crucial for optimizing athletic performance in sprint kayaking.
• Different warm-up strategies, including continuous (CON), intermittent high intensity (INT), and self-selected (SS), may elicit varying physiological responses.
• Understanding the impact of these warm-ups on 500 m sprint kayak performance (K500) is essential for applied practitioners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of self-selected (SS) warm-ups against continuous (CON) and intermittent high intensity (INT) warm-ups on 500 m sprint kayak performance (K500).
• To analyze physiological responses, including heart rate, blood lactate (BLa), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), associated with different warm-up protocols.
• To determine if warm-up type influences subsequent K500 performance in nationally ranked sprint kayakers.

Main Methods:

• Twelve nationally ranked sprint kayakers participated in a randomized trial involving CON, INT, and SS warm-up conditions.
• Warm-up protocols included specific durations and intensities, with SS representing the athlete's typical competition routine.
• K500 performance was assessed on a kayak ergometer, with physiological measures (heart rate, BLa, RPE) recorded pre- and post-warm-up and post-performance.

Main Results:

• Physiological markers like heart rate, blood lactate, and RPE were significantly higher following the INT warm-up compared to CON and SS warm-ups (p < 0.05).
• No significant differences in heart rate, BLa, or RPE were observed between warm-up conditions during the K500 performance.
• Crucially, K500 performance outcomes were comparable across all three warm-up conditions (CON, SS, INT; p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Warm-up type does not significantly impact 500 m sprint kayak performance in elite athletes.
• Applied practitioners can select any of the tested warm-up strategies (CON, INT, SS) without compromising K500 performance.
• Athletes and coaches can prioritize athlete preference or convenience in warm-up selection for sprint kayaking events.