Priming the Conversation Full Circle: Exploring Mechanistic Explanations for Same-Day Performance Effects Following...

Recent investigations have used the term "priming exercise" to describe a bout of low-volume exercise commonly prescribed to enhance same-day performance. Although research has revealed improvements in performance measures following these priming exercise strategies, few studies have explored possible mechanisms behind the performance changes. Nevertheless, investigations have only provided physiological theories for performance outcomes. While testing results may reflect physiological responses, underlying processes likely mediate performance effects. As performance problems are seldom solved using a narrow lens, it may be useful to broaden the scope of discussion to develop more comprehensive hypotheses that can guide future priming exercise research and enhance applied methods.

This article critically evaluates existing explanations and proposes alternative mechanisms that may explain same-day performance effects following priming exercise stimuli.