The potentiation effects of high intensity warm ups in a middle distance context

n previous research (Long & French, 2013a, 2013b, 2013c, 2014a) we have explored how since the start of athletic competition, coaches have attempted to create innovative methods of preparing athletes to perform at their optimum. Much of the established coach education literature has focused on the effects of long term preparation and planning, now known as Periodization, in terms of how different activities are performed in the weeks and months leading up to a competition (Bompa and Haff, 2009).

This current research focuses on activities undertaken by athletes under the supervision of coaches immediately prior to performance and in this case we are specifically looking at how mode of warm can produce a potentiation effect. Evidence has suggested that warm ups can both reduce injury (Thacker et al., 2004) and increase both endurance and ‘power’ performance (Young & Behm, 2003). This being said, we have argued (Long & French, 2013a, 2013b, 2013c) that whilst many of the practices seem not to be new and have been implemented by coaches over a period of time, the effectiveness and scientific underpinnings are only now being understood. More specifically, we have begun to make the argument that it is not only the duration of the warm up which 2 matters but rather the intensity of the warm up undertaken before training and competition.