The Effect of Warm-up Running Technique on Sprint Performance

Gil, MH, Neiva, HP, Alves, AR, Sousa, AC, Ferraz, R, Marques, MC, and Marinho, DA. The effect of warm-up running technique on sprint performance. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3341-3347, 2021-The purpose of the current study was to analyze the effect of changing the running technique during warm-up on sprint performances, running biomechanics, physiological, and psychophysiological responses. Thirty-one physically active men aged 18-23 years (mean +/- SD: 19.35 +/- 1.08 years of age; 1.77 +/- 0.07 m of height; 71.90 +/- 10.37 kg of body mass) volunteered to participate and randomly performed 2 maximal 30-m sprints, 5 minutes after completing a warm-up focused on increased stride length-SL (WUL) or a warm-up focused on increased stride frequency-SF (WUF). The results showed that there were no differences between the 30-m sprint performances and in running biomechanics. However, WUF showed increased performances in the first 15 m of the race (WUF: 2.59 +/- 0.11 seconds vs. WUL: 2.63 +/- 0.15 seconds; p = 0.03), and WUL resulted in higher performances in the last 15 m (1.94 +/- 0.19 seconds vs. 1.88 +/- 0.09 seconds; p = 0.05). In the second 30-m time trial, WUF also resulted in faster starting 15 m of the race (2.58 +/- 0.12 seconds vs. 2.63 +/- 0.16 seconds; p = 0.04). Interestingly, the WUF was the warm-up that revealed more stability in performances and running biomechanics between both trials. These results showed that there were no significant differences between warm-ups comprising exercises focusing in higher SL or higher SF in 30-m sprint biomechanics and performance. Nevertheless, different running strategies were caused by those 2 warm-ups and a more stabilized running pattern, and performance values were found when warm-up focused on higher SF.