1. Does passive heating of the quadriceps and hamstrings post-
warm-up attenuate muscle temperature decline and improve
track and field sprint performance?
by
Charleigh Keane
A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science for Health
University of Kent
Faculty of Sport and Exercise Sciences
April 2017
2. Does passive heating of the quadriceps and hamstrings post-warm-up
attenuate muscle temperature decline and improve track and field
sprint performance?
Charleigh Keane
Abstract
Background: A reduction in sprint performance has been observed following
periods of inactivity post-warm-up (POST-WU), which is likely to be a
consequence of a decline in muscle temperature (Tm). It has been proposed
that passive heating attenuates POST-WU Tm declines, which is linked to an
enhanced sprint performance.
Purpose: This study examined the effect of passive heating during a 30-
minute POST-WU stimulated recovery period on Tm and subsequent sprint
performance.
Methods: Eight male sprinters participated in this study (age 22.7 ± 3.3 years;
height 179.1 ± 6.6 cm; body mass 81.2 ± 12.9 kg; mean ± SD). Subsequent to
the familiarisation visit, in a non-consecutive randomised order, subjects
completed either a (CONTROL) or (HEAT) trial. Each trial involved a 30-
minute standardised track warm-up and a 30-minute stimulated recovery
period where participants either sat stationary in normal competition attire
(CONT) or with heated gel packs on the quadriceps and hamstrings (HEAT).
Measurements of skin temperature (Tsk) and core temperature (Tcore) were
recorded in 10-minute intervals in order to calculate an estimated mean
3. muscle temperature. Participants mounted the non-motorised treadmill where
they performed a 15-second sprint. Distance, mean power (MPO), peak
power (PPO), mean velocity (mV) and peak velocity (PV) were recorded at
the end of the sprint.
Results: Passive heating did attenuate declines in Tm during a 30-minute
recovery period from 33.0 ± 0.3 °C to 34.6 ± 0.1 °C (P = 0.005). This
improved PPO significantly (P = 0.02) from 1319.8 ± 187.9 W to 1722.1 ±
223.4 W. However, there was no significant difference observed in distance
covered (P = 0.054), MPO (P = 0.830) or PV (P = 0.220), and a significantly
lower average sprint speed was observed (P = 0.991) with a 0.36 ± 3.51 km/h
reduction between trials.
Conclusion: These data demonstrate that passive heating of the upper leg
attenuates estimated mean Tm declines during a 30-minute POST-WU
stimulated recovery period which increases PPO in track and field sprinters.
However, passive heating does not significantly improve distance, MPO, mV
or PV.
4. Contents
Abstract…………………………………..........………………………….……………………2
Acknowledgements….……………………………………………………...........................4
Contents…………………………………………………………………………………….…..5
List of Tables……………………………………………………………………..…………….7
List of Figures………………………………………………………………………………….7
List of Abbreviations…………………………………………………………….………..…..7
1. Chapter: I Introduction………………..........……………………….………….…....…8
1.1 Research topic……………………………………..........…………………………….8
1.1.1 Warm-up………………………………..........……………………………..…8
1.1.2 Peak power output in sprinting………………………………......................9
1.1.3 The effect of inactivity on performance……………………………………..9
1.1.4 Passive heat maintenance……………………………………...................10
1.2 Aims and Objectives……………………………………………………..................10
1.3 Research Questions………………………………..........………………………….11
2. Literature Review……………………………………..........……………...……………12
2.1 Sprint phases……………………………………………………………..................12
2.1.1 Acceleration phase………………….…………………………………..…..11
2.1.2 Maximal velocity phase……………………….……………….……………14
2.1.3 Deceleration phase…………………………………………….…………....14
2.1.4 Non-motorised treadmill………………………………………………...…..15
2.2 Muscle temperature on peak power output……………….………………...….…15
2.3 Active Warm-up……………………………………………………………………....17
2.4 The effects of inactivity in the Call Room………………….……………….…..….22
2.4.1 The Call Room……………………………………………….……………....22
2.4.2 Heat loss mechanisms……………………………………….…………......23
2.4.3 Heat loss: Skin temperature………………………………….………….....24
2.4.4 Heat loss: Muscle temperature…………………………….…………..…..25
2.4.5 Re-warm-up……………………………………………………………...…..26
2.5 Passive heat maintenance…………………………………………………...…….27
2.6 Critical review of current literature………………………………………......….…28
5. 2.6.1 Research hypotheses…………………………….…………………..….…32
3. Methodology…………………………………..........……………………..................…33
3.1 Subjects………………………………………………………..…............................33
3.2 Experimental design..........……………………………………….……..................33
3.2.1 Heat intervention……………………………………………………….……35
3.2.2 Control intervention……………………………………………….……...….35
3.3 Measurements……………………..........……………………………………….…..35
3.3.1 Ambient temperature and humidity………………………………………..36
3.3.2 Body weight…………………………………………………………….…….36
3.3.3 Skin and core temperature…………………………………………….……36
3.3.4 Calculations…………………………………………………..................…..36
3.3.5 Heart rate………………………………………………………....................37
3.3.6 Performance measures………………………………………………......…37
3.3.7 Statistical analysis………………………………………………………..….37
4. Results……………………..……………………….………..............……………..……38
4.1 Sprint performance……………………………………………………...…………...39
4.2 Muscle temperature……………………………………….………………….….…..43
5. Discussion……………..……………………………………........…………….…..……47
6. Limitations and Conclusions…………………………..........………....................…53
7. References……………………………………..........…………………………………...60
8. Appendices…………………………………..........……………………………………..68
