Effects of Preferred and Nonpreferred Warm-Up Music on Exercise Performance.

This study investigated the effects of preferred and non-preferred warm-up music listening conditions on subsequent exercise performance. A total of 12 physically active male and female participants engaged in a crossover, counterbalanced research design in which they completed exercise trials after 3 different warm-up experiences of (a) no music (NM), (b) preferred music (PREF), and (c) nonpreferred music (NON-PREF). Participants began warming up by rowing at 50% of of age-predicted heart rate maximum (HRmax) for 5 minutes while exposed to the three music conditions. Immediately following the warm-up and cessation of any music, participants completed a 2000-m rowing time trial as fast as possible. Relative power output, trial time, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and motivation were analyzed. Results indicated that, compared with NM, relative power output was significantly higher (p = .018), trial time was significantly lower (p = .044), and heart rate was significantly higher (p = .032) during the PREF but not the NON-PREF condition. Rating of perceived exertion was not altered, regardless of music condition (p > .05). Motivation to exercise was higher during the PREF condition versus the NM (p = .001) and NON-PREF (p < .001) conditions. Listening to preferred warm-up music improved subsequent exercise performance compared with no music, while nonpreferred music did not impart ergogenic benefit.

Warm-Up Strategies for Sport and Exercise: Mechanisms and Applications.

It is widely accepted that warming-up prior to exercise is vital for the attainment of optimum performance. Both passive and active warm-up can evoke temperature, metabolic, neural and psychology-related effects, including increased anaerobic metabolism, elevated oxygen uptake kinetics and post-activation potentiation. Passive warm-up can increase body temperature without depleting energy substrate stores, as occurs during the physical activity associated with active warm-up. While the use of passive warm-up alone is not commonplace, the idea of utilizing passive warming techniques to maintain elevated core and muscle temperature throughout the transition phase (the period between completion of the warm-up and the start of the event) is gaining in popularity. Active warm-up induces greater metabolic changes, leading to increased preparedness for a subsequent exercise task. Until recently, only modest scientific evidence was available supporting the effectiveness of pre-competition warm-ups, with early studies often containing relatively few participants and focusing mostly on physiological rather than performance-related changes. External issues faced by athletes pre-competition, including access to equipment and the length of the transition/marshalling phase, have also frequently been overlooked. Consequently, warm-up strategies have continued to develop largely on a trial-and-error basis, utilizing coach and athlete experiences rather than scientific evidence. However, over the past decade or so, new research has emerged, providing greater insight into how and why warm-up influences subsequent performance. This review identifies potential physiological mechanisms underpinning warm-ups and how they can affect subsequent exercise performance, and provides recommendations for warm-up strategy design for specific individual and team sports.

Warm-up on a simulator improves residents' performance in laparoscopic surgery: a randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to assess the impact of immediate preoperative laparoscopic warm-up using a simulator on intraoperative laparoscopic performance by gynecologic residents. METHODS: Eligible laparoscopic cases performed for benign, gynecologic indications were randomized to be performed with or without immediate preoperative warm-up. Residents randomized to warm-up performed a brief set of standardized exercises on a laparoscopic trainer immediately before surgery. Intraoperative performance was scored using previously validated global rating scales. Assessment was made immediately after surgery by attending faculty who were blinded to the warm-up randomization. RESULTS: We randomized 237 residents to 47 minor laparoscopic cases (adnexal/ tubal surgery) and 44 to major laparoscopic cases (hysterectomy). Overall, attendings rated upper-level resident performances (postgraduate year [PGY-3, 4]) significantly higher on global rating scales than lower-level resident performances (PGY-1, 2). Residents who performed warm-up exercises prior to surgery were rated significantly higher on all subscales within each global rating scale, irrespective of the difficulty of the surgery. Most residents felt that performing warm-up exercises helped their intraoperative performances. CONCLUSION: Performing a brief warm-up exercise before a major or minor laparoscopic procedure significantly improved the intraoperative performance of residents irrespective of the difficulty of the case.

Virtuoso hands.

This article discusses what it means for the hands to play a musical instrument. It gives an impression of the time a musician spends practising and performing. Hand function is discussed by instrument, and an explicit description is given of technical aspects such as the position of a violinist's fingers on the strings. Furthermore, individual differences and the influence of composers are discussed. Finally, the warm-up and the psychological burden on the musician are examined.