Effects of Different Warm-up Protocols on the Cardiopulmonary Responses to Exercise Testing in Youth

The aim of this study was to compare the warm-up effects of a treadmill walking warm-up (TW) with a dynamic warm-up (DW) on the responses to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in youth. A sample of 16 active youth (age 13.6 ± 1.8 yr) were tested for peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ peak) using the Fitkids treadmill test protocol on 2 nonconsecutive days following different 6-min warm-up procedures. The TW consisted of walking on a treadmill at 2.2 mph and 0% grade whereas the DW consisted of 12 bodyweight exercises with a 2 kg medicine ball. Maximal heart rate (HR) was significantly higher following DW vs TW (200.8 ± 6.16 vs. 197.9 ± 7.3 bpm, respectively; p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were found between DW and TW for VO₂ peak (50.5 ± 9.9 vs 50.6 ± 11.1 ml/kg/min), maximal minute ventilation (V_E; 93.0 ±21.4 vs. 92.7 ±21.2 L/min), maximal respiratory exchange ratio (1.19 ± 0.08 vs 1.22 ± 0.08), and total exercise test time (668.1 ± 103.5 vs 686.3 ± 97.0 s), respectively. During the Fitkids treadmill test protocol HR and V_E were significantly higher following DW vs TW at stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 and stage 4, and oxygen uptake was significantly higher following DW vs TW during stage 1 (all p < 0.05). Findings indicate a DW elicits a higher maximal HR and higher submaximal HR, V_E, and oxygen uptake values than TW during CPET in youth, although no differences in VO₂ peak were observed.