Supercompensation

In any form of training the body is exposed to a workload or physical stress of a frequency, intensity, time (duration) and type sufficient to cause physical change. Together, these variables make up the training volume representing the total amount of exercise/work performed.

To achieve a training effect, the body must be overloaded, that is, exposed to a physical stress which is greater than that encountered in everyday living. The response to this training stress is catabolism, the breakdown of metabolic fuels or tissues. Following the catabolic response, the tissues react by adapting and becoming better suited to coping with the imposed stress; this adaptation is known as anabolism, and involves tissue growth. With training, the anabolic effect is excessive, causing the tissues to grow stronger, a process called supercompensation.

The process of adaptation to an imposed demand (stress) is succinctly described by the general adaptation syndrome or GAS (Seyle, 1956). Initially there is an alarm reaction or ‘shock’. This may last for several weeks, and during this time an athlete’s performance will be impaired, leading to stiffness. Over time, the body adapts to the stress and the athlete enters the resistance phase which is the process of ‘supercompensation’, enabling the body to cope more effectively with stress at that imposed level.

If the stress imposed on the body is too great, or if an athlete fails to allow a sufficient recovery period for the body to adapt, the exhaustion phase may be reached. The body becomes stiff and sore again and the athlete quickly loses motivation. Boredom sets in—overreaching and eventually overtraining has occurred. Lack of adequate rest, poor diet and too little sleep to allow recovery can all lead to exhaustion.

Treatment note 4.1

Overtraining syndrome

Training involves stressing the body so that it overcompensates and gains a training effect. Some fatigue after exercise is therefore desirable and this type of acute fatigue leads to an increase in performance. However, if the training volume is too great, or the recovery period between training bouts too brief, athletes will overreach giving a temporary reduction in performance. Where overreaching (OR) is marked, stagnation will result in a brief performance reduction. This may occur for example after a hard training camp, and the effect would be positive providing recovery is adequate. Overreaching of this type is termed ‘functional OR’. Continuing the increase in training intensity without allowing recovery will lead to a reduction in performance called non-functional OR. A short-term decrement in performance occurs which allows the athlete to recover within a 2-week period (Lehmann et al., 1999). If recovery is not adequate and training continues, the progression is to overtraining. Recovery in this case may takes months or in some cases years (Meeusen et al., 2006).

Overtraining syndrome (OTS) occurs when the body is subjected to stresses beyond its capacity to adapt. Lack of adaptation to training leads in turn to a reduction in sports performance and a number of important potential health concerns. The symptoms of OTS are initially similar to those of hard training, such as muscle aching and fatigue. However, the experienced coach and athlete can detect when these changes are greater than normal. Several physiological effects are thought to underlie OTS, including autonomic nervous system changes, alteration in endocrine response, suppression of immune function and variation in brain neurotransmitters (Wilmore, Costill and Kenney, 2008). Alteration in sympathetic nervous system drive is seen in athletes who emphasize high intensity resistance training giving increased heart rate, blood pressure, and basal metabolic rate, loss of appetite and decreased body mass.

Symptoms of OTS

Decline in performance

Feeling of fatigue

Insomnia

Change/loss in appetite

Reduction in bodyweight

Unexpected pain / aching in muscles and joints

Headaches

Irritability, restlessness, anxiety

Loss of motivation

Loss of concentration

Lethargy and depression

Raised resting pulse rate, blood pressure &/or basal metabolic rate

Susceptibility to minor respiratory infections

One of the adaptations to normal training is a change in the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA) characterized by an increase in the ACTH/cortisol ratio during the post workout recovery period. In OTS there is a change in the rise in ACTH following exercise and this has been used to identify non-functional OR and OTS. Using two exercise bout tests Meeusen et al. (2004) were able to demonstrate large increases in hormonal release following the first exercise bout but suppression following the second. Time to fatigue tests which are specific to an athlete’s sport have also been used to detect OTS (Halson and Jeukendrup, 2004). Typically athletes suffering from OTS are able to begin an exercise session performing normally but then suffer from an unexplained performance drop. Fatigue tests are therefore more predictive than incremental tests (Meeusen et al., 2006).

Mood state questionnaires are very useful in the identification of OTS as negative affective states characterize the condition. Questionnaires such as the recovery-stress questionnaire (RestQ-Sport) may be used but athletes should ideally be tracked throughout their training to identify a baseline to show deviation. This is a 76-item questionnaire which assesses the physical and mental impact of training (Kellman, 2001). Heart rate variability (HRV) has also been used as an assessment tool of OR. HRV increases with heightened parasympathetic tone and has been shown to be significantly elevated following chronic training (Meeusen et al., 2006).

Many athletes describe an increase in URT infections following hard training—the so called ‘open window’ effect. This effect seems to be more prevalent with OR and OTS. A 2-week period of intense training has been shown to reduce bacterial defense response (bacterially stimulated neutrophil degradation) by 20% (Robson et al., 1999) and a 1-week intense programme to lower T-cell count (Lancaster et al., 2004)

The initial management OTS is dependent on identifying OR. This is made easier by having the athlete keep a training log (Table 4.1) so that changes in response to their baseline measure may be recognized early and appropriate action taken. Where OR is suspected it is vital that training volume be reduced, and in more severe cases total rest may be called for over a period of many weeks. Prevention focuses on periodization of training to vary training variables including frequency, intensity, time and type (FITT). High quality diet and adequate sleep play a pivotal role in exercise recovery and the prevention of OTS.

Table 4.1 Daily training log

Training details—FITT Perceived exertion—RPE Self perception of training—worse/same/better than other days Sleep quality (rating 1−5) Muscle soreness (rating 1–5) General fatigue (rating 1–5) History of illness—UTI/MSK/menstruation

FITT: frequency, intensity, time, type; RPE: rating of perceived exertion; UTI: upper respiratory tract infection; MSK: musculoskeletal.

References

Halson S., Jeukendrup A. Does overtraining exist? An analysis of overreaching and overtraining research. Sports Medicine. 2004;34:967-981.

Kellmann M., Kallus K.W. Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for athletes: User manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers; 2001.

Lancaster G.I., Halson S.L., Khan Q., Drysdale P., Jeukendrup A. The effects of acute exhaustive exercise and intensified training on type 1/ type 2 T cell distribution and cytokine production. Exercise Immunology Review. 2004;10:91-106.

Lehmann M., Foster C., Gastmann U., et al. Overload, performance incompetence, and regeneration in sport. New York: Plenum; 1999.

Meeusen R., Duclos M., Gleeson M., Rietjens G. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the Overtraining Syndrome. ECSS position statement. European Journal of Sports Science. 2006;6(1):1-14.

Meeusen R., Piacentini M.F., Busschaert B., Buyse L. Hormonal responses in athletes: the use of a two bout exercise protocol to detect subtle differences in overtraining status. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2004;91:140-146.

Robson P.J., Blannin A.K., Walsh N.P. The effect of an acute period of intense interval training on human neutrophil function and plasma glutamine in endurance trained male runners. Journal of Physiology. 1999;515:84-85P.

Wilmore J.H., Costill D.L., Kenney W.L. Physiology of sport and exercise, fifth ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers; 2008.

Progressive exercise

As fitness improves, the intensity of the load which is required to produce a training effect will increase. Adaptation to the load occurs, and so further improvement will only occur if the training intensity is increased. Physical activity in itself is therefore not synonymous with physical training. A training effect will only occur if an activity is sufficiently demanding.

In addition to a minimum intensity, the training load must be continued for a certain time. High intensity training which is too brief may not allow time for the physical adaptations required by the body. The frequency of training—that is, how often it is carried out—is also important. Training is a stimulus which causes an anabolic adaptation. This adaptation will take time, and so adequate recovery must be allowed between training sessions for the body tissues to modify themselves. The type of training will dictate the type of tissue adaptation which occurs, a principle known as specificity (McCafferty and Horvath, 1977) (see below).

Training effects are not permanent. The motor system adapts to the level (overload) and type (specificity) of stress that is imposed on it. If the stress is removed, and training ceases, the motor system will again adapt to the new, now lower, level of stress, and detraining will occur. This transient nature of training adaptation is known as the reversibility principle (Thorstensson, 1977; Enoka, 1994).

When training for aerobic (cardiopulmonary) fitness or stamina, exercise intensity may be assessed by measuring heart rate or maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max). The American College of Sports Medicine (1978) recommended the quantity and quality of exercise required to develop and maintain aerobic fitness and body composition. A training frequency of 3–5 days per week is required, at an intensity of 60–90% of the maximum heart rate reserve, or 50–85% VO₂ max. This should be carried out for a duration of 15–60 minutes, and be continuous or rhythmical in nature. These recommendations were later updated to include the provision of resistance training, flexibility and weight loss (ACSM, 1990, 2002). For strength gains, one set of 8–12 repetitions was recommended, with 8–10 exercises for the major muscles groups, for 2 days per week. A balanced flexibility programme should include both static and dynamic range of motion exercise to work the major muscle/tendon groups. Each stretch should be held for at least 10–30 seconds, and four repetitions should be used for each group two to three times per week. To achieve significant weight loss, hours of moderate exercise with an energy expenditure of at least 2000 calories per week is recommended. To achieve this, either continuous or accumulative exercise may be used at an exercise intensity of 55–69% maximal heart rate. Accumulated daily duration should be 30–40 minutes per day (Table 4.2).

Table 4.2 ACSM guidelines for maintaining fitness in apparently healthy individuals

HR max: maximal heart rate; 1 RM: maximum resistance lifted for single repetition.Source ACSM (1978, 2002).

Importantly each of us is different, and will respond differently to training. This principle of Individuality underlies successful exercise prescription. Variation in tissue adaptation, neural, cardiopulmonary and endocrine changes, and psychology dictate that we will all respond slightly differently to exercise. Individuality explains why when two people begin a gym programme, for example, one may progress quite rapidly (high responder) while the other may struggle to make gains (low responder). The main reason for individuality is hereditary. A study of a 20-week endurance training programme using identical twins (Prud’homme et al., 1984) showed a similar training response for each twin pair, but a substantial variation across subjects of maximal aerobic power improvement (0−40%). Assessing the difference in training response (VO₂ max) using family members (Bouchard and Rankinen, 2001) has shown that high or low responders tend to be clustered within families, again representing a genetic and/or familial tendency.

Fitness components

The fitness components may be conveniently defined as ‘S’ factors (Table 4.4). The term ‘stamina’ is used to encompass both cardiopulmonary and local muscle endurance. Cardiopulmonary endurance is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (Ashton and Davies, 1986), and local muscle endurance is a factor in any sustained activity, especially joint stability. Suppleness (flexibility) and strength (see below) are concerned with the health of the musculoskeletal system, to maintain both range of movement and joint integrity. Speed (rate of movement) and power (rate of doing work) are both needed in later stage rehabilitation as part of proprioceptive training. Skill training is important, not just for sports specific actions, but for the skill of individual movement such as scapulohumeral rhythm or gait re-education, for example.

Table 4.4 ‘S’ factors of fitness

The term ‘specificity’ refers to the SAID principle, that is ‘specific adaptation to imposed demands’. The change taking place in the body of an athlete (adaptation) as a result of training (the imposed demand) will be determined by the type of training which is used, and will be specific to it.

Specificity applies to strength and power development, but also to the energy systems used while exercising. A particular cardiopulmonary training programme will cause specific training adaptations. Aerobic fitness developed on a cycle ergometer, for example, will differ slightly from that obtained while running.

It is important, therefore, that training matches as accurately as possible the action which the athlete will use in a sport in terms of joint range, muscle work, energy system and skill.

The term ‘spirit’ covers the psychological effects of exercise as discussed below.

Exercise and self-concept

Several psychological characteristics have also been shown to change as a result of participation in a regular exercise programme. Enhancement of self-confidence, self-esteem and body image are seen, and reductions in anxiety, depression, stress and tension have been demonstrated.

Enhanced well-being

Athletes often claim that exercise makes them ‘feel good’, and the ‘runners’ high’ is a widely reported phenomenon. Reductions in stress and anxiety have been reported, lasting for between 2 and 5 hours after the cessation of training (Morgan, 1985), and decreased depression has been demonstrated as a result of 6–20-week exercise programmes (Greist et al., 1979). In addition, altered states of consciousness have been described following distance running (Mandell, 1979). Weight training programmes have been shown to enhance self-concept in both male (Dishman and Gettman, 1981; Tucker, 1982) and female (Brown and Harrison, 1986) athletes. Three theories exist to explain these phenomena: the distraction hypothesis, and the production of monoamines and endorphins.

How exercise makes an athlete feel better

The distraction hypothesis proposes that participation in vigorous exercise distracts the athlete from stress. Comparisons between exercise, meditation and distraction show similar reductions in state anxiety, but the effect resulting from exercise appears to last longer (Morgan, 1985).

Depression is also affected by exercise. Reductions in the monoamine chemicals noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and serotonin (5-HT) are associated with depressed states in humans, and these same chemicals have been shown to increase in rats subjected to chronic exercise (Brown et al., 1979). Increases in the release of endorphins and enkephalins, or slowing of the dissociation rates of these chemicals has also been proposed (Pert and Bowie, 1979). By measuring plasma levels of these chemicals or using opiate antagonists to neutralize them, researchers have demonstrated some association between exercise and endorphins (Farrell et al., 1983).

Exercise addiction

Exercise addiction, or exercise dependence, is the physiological or psychological dependence on regular exercise, usually distance running, but other forms of exercise such as body-building may also show this trend. Athletes who are addicted to exercise show symptoms of withdrawal and show uncontrollable craving for a particular exercise type at the expense of other training.

The experience of exercise for an athlete, and the way in which this fits into the rest of his or her life, is one factor which determines whether or not an exercise becomes addictive (Crossman, Jamieson and Henderson, 1987). An individual’s need for exercise can be either positive or negative. Positive addiction exists when an athlete receives some psychological or physical benefit from an activity, and is able to control the activity.

The negatively addicted athlete is controlled by the activity and will experience severe negative effects (withdrawal) with a missed exercise bout. Such athletes often engage in an activity at the expense of their health or at the expense of other factors, such as relationships and career prospects. The negatively addicted athlete may be failing to gain approval from significant others and may harbour feelings of inadequacy or unattractiveness. This type of athlete often exercises alone or in isolation from the group. They experience feelings of enhanced self-concept and even euphoria during exercise. Importantly, such individuals are more likely to ignore pain or injury and work through this to complete a workout. In the same vein, they tend to be anxious if a workout is missed and almost appear to suffer ‘withdrawal symptoms’ (Table 4.5).

Table 4.5 Characteristics of exercise addiction

Adapted from Glasser, W. (1976) Positive Addiction. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc. and Anshel, M.H. (1991) A psycho-behavioral analysis of addicted versus non-addicted male and female exercisers. Journal of Sport Behavior, 14 (2), 145–154.

Warm-up types

Warm-up may be either passive, involving an external heat source, or active, involving body heat. An active warm-up, in turn, may be general, using the whole body, or specific, working only those body parts to be used in competition, and studies have shown improvements from each (Table 4.6).

Table 4.6 Some historical studies on efficiency of warm-up

Many external heat sources are suitable for a passive warm-up. Common types used by athletes include hot baths or showers and saunas. Clinically, physiotherapists use a number of modalities including hot packs, whirlpool baths and electrotherapy (short-wave diathermy in particular). Benefits are claimed to result from the increase in tissue temperature, and physical performance has been improved using this type of warm-up.

With a passive warm-up, no significant active body movement is used, and little energy is expended. Subsequent physical work will not therefore be impaired due to depletion of energy stores. This type of warm-up can be useful clinically, when active movement is either not desirable or not possible.

General warm-ups are the type most commonly used in sport. The overall body temperature is raised by active exercise, increasing the temperature of the deep muscles and body core. Specific warm-up involves movements which are to be used in actual competition, but at a reduced intensity. Rehearsal of body movement takes place, and the specific tissues directly involved in the activity are heated. This type of warm-up would seem especially appropriate for events requiring highly skilled and coordinated actions.

Effects of warm-up

A warm-up achieves its effect through physiological, psychological and biomechanical methods. Physiological effects are largely due to increases in tissue temperature, while psychological effects are mainly due to practice. Biomechanical effects are achieved by alterations in the tissue response to mechanical strain.

Tissue temperature

The ability to perform physical work is improved by elevated temperature (Bergh and Ekblom, 1979a). Warm-up prior to maximal exercise will enable the adaptations necessary for these changes to occur sooner.

Oxygen dissociation from haemoglobin is more rapid and complete, and oxygen release from myoglobin is greater at higher temperatures (Astrand and Rodahl, 1986). The critical level of various metabolic processes is lowered, causing an acceleration in metabolic rate and a more efficient usage of substrates. Muscle contraction is more rapid and forceful (Bergh, 1980). The sensitivity of nerve receptors and speed of transmission of nervous impulses are both increased as temperature rises (Astrand and Rodahl, 1986). This more rapid transmission of kinaesthetic signals is particularly important when complex highly skilled movements are used. These temperature-dependent changes are summarized in Table 4.7.

Table 4.7 Warm-up mechanisms

Improvement	Mechanism
Muscle work	Faster muscle contraction and relaxation speeds
Economy of movement	Lowered viscous resistance within muscle
Oxygen delivery and usage	Haemaglobin releases oxygen more easily as tissue temperature rises
Nerve conduction	Increased temperature accelerates metabolic rate within nerve. Specific warm-up rehearses motor pattern
Blood perfusion	Local vascular bed dilated

Source McArdle, W.D., Katch, F.I. and Katch, V.L. (2001) Exercise Physiology, Energy, Nutrition and Human Performance, 5th edn. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. With permission.

The increased tissue temperature created by a warm-up will alter the force−velocity curve of a muscle. The effect is to shift the curve to the right by 12% for each 1°C increase in temperature (Enoka, 1994). The change in contraction velocity (maximal velocity of shortening) results in an increase in peak power output of the muscle (Fig. 4.2).

Figure 4.2 Effect of tissue temperature increase due to warm-up. (A) Peak power is increased demonstrated by increased height obtained on vertical jump test. (B) Maximum velocity of shortening increased and torque–velocity curve shifts to the right.

Adapted from Enoka, R.M. (1994) Neuromechanical Basis of Kinesiology, 2nd edn. Human Kinetics, Illinois. With permission.

Large temperature changes have been shown to affect maximal isometric force. Cooling the hand muscles to 15°C reduced maximum isometric force by 30% (Ranatunga, Sharpe and Turnbull, 1987), while warming the quadriceps changed maximal isometric torque from 262 Nm at 30.4°C to 312 Nm at 38.5°C, an increase of 2.4%/1°C (Bergh and Ekblom, 1979b).

Mobilization hypothesis

In the initial period of intense exercise, high amounts of energy are required immediately. The anaerobic reserves are quickly used up, and the aerobic system has not yet become fully functional. The difference between the energy needed and that which can be supplied is known as the oxygen deficit, and represents stored energy and the build up of metabolic wastes (Fig. 4.3). When exercise stops, the body continues to provide energy aerobically to replenish the energy stores and metabolize waste products which have accumulated. This, in turn, creates the oxygen debt.

Figure 4.3 The effect of warm-up on oxygen deficit.

Gutin and Stewart (1971) argued that a function of warm-up was to mobilize the body’s cardiovascular system to reach a steady state. As warm-up was stopped, a brief rest period before competition allowed the oxygen debt to be repaid, without letting the cardiovascular system return to normal levels. When competition commenced, the oxygen deficit would be smaller, and some anaerobic energy would be available to the athlete at the end of exercise.

Gutin et al. (1976) asked subjects to pedal a cycle ergometer at an intensity sufficient to produce a heart rate of 140 b.p.m., a rate which they claimed equated with a 50–60% VO₂ max. The subjects’ performance in a subsequent exercise task was significantly better than a control group who did not undertake a warm-up, a result possibly due to the mechanism described above.

A rest period is essential after the warm-up, to allow the oxygen debt to be repaid. But, following rest, the body must be kept warm to maintain the warm-up effects until the athlete competes. As an illustration, Andzel and Gutin (1976) used bench stepping both as a warm-up and exercise task. A 30- or 60-second rest after the warm-up resulted in improved performance, but when no rest period followed the warm-up, performance remained unchanged.

How long should a warm-up last, and what intensity of exercise should be used? A number of papers have addressed these questions. Andzel (1982) compared warm-up periods at an intensity sufficient to produce a heart rate of 120 and 140 b.p.m., followed by a 30-second rest period. Performance was significantly better with the 140 b.p.m. group. Richards (1968) argued that while some warm-ups would enhance performance, others could interfere with performance if fatigue set in. By varying the length of stool stepping, she concluded that a 1- or 2-minute warm-up was superior to a 4- or 6-minute period in her study. Bonner (1974) saw similar effects by altering warm-up periods with a static cycle task. Where performance was reduced in these examples, the workload was obviously too high. Sargeant and Dolan (1987) compared warm-up periods with changing intensity assessed by percentage of VO₂ max, and concluded that a 39% VO₂ max intensity was superior to a warm-up at 56% VO₂ max.

Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules to guide the athlete in terms of warm-up duration and intensity, but, generally, once the heart rate has reached about 140 b.p.m., this should be sustained for 2–3 minutes. This workload should be sufficient to induce light sweating, and is appropriate for the cardiopulmonary part of the warm-up. Obviously, the time taken to achieve this heart rate will depend on exercise intensity and fitness level, so the total warm-up period will be considerably longer.

Keypoint

A warm-up should be of sufficient intensity to induce mild sweating.

Biomechanical effects

Safran et al. (1988) showed that a greater force and length of stretch was required to tear isometrically preconditioned muscles (Fig. 4.4). They claimed that the rise in temperature occurring during the warm-up period could alter the viscosity of the connective tissue within the muscle, and that isometric contractions caused a stretch at the musculotendinous junction. LaBan (1962) showed a 1.5% increase in the length of a stretched tendon following a temperature increase to 42.5°C. Warren, Lehmann and Koblanski (1971) demonstrated increases of 5.8% in length and 58% in force to failure for tendons heated to 45°C.

Figure 4.4 The effect of warm-up on tissue failure.

After Safran, M.R. et al. (1988) The role of warmup in muscular injury prevention. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 16 (2), 123–129. With permission.

Shellock and Prentice (1985) argued that muscle elasticity is dependent on blood saturation. They claimed that cold muscles with lower blood saturation levels were therefore more susceptible to injury. Fluids exhibit higher viscosity with lower temperatures, and so joint inertia will be greater when the synovial fluid of a joint is colder.

Changes have also been noted in structural stiffness of muscle following warm-up and exercise. Immediately following activity, muscle stiffness is increased, but can be significantly reduced by stretching. The increase in stiffness is thought to result from thixotropy (Enoka, 1994), the property exhibited by materials whereby they become more fluid when disturbed (shaken). Within muscle, stable bonds are formed between actin and myosin filaments. The bonds are increased following activity, but disengaged by stretching. This has important implications for both warm-up and cool-down. Warm-up will help minimize general muscle stiffness, while cool-down will reduce the actin and myosin bonding which remains following exercise (see also DOMS).

Proprioception has been shown to improve as a result of warm-up (Bartlett and Warren, 2002). Joint position appreciation is more sensitive in the knee after a warm-up, demonstrating that joints seem to accommodate to increased ligamentous laxity which results from a reduction in stiffness due to exercise. The method through which this occurs is thought to be an increase in the sensitivity of the proprioceptive mechanisms around the knee.

Psychological effects

Psychological aspects of warm-up fall broadly into two categories: first, there are psychological effects of a physical warm-up which will be dealt with below; second, aspects of sports psychology, such as visualization and imagery, which are dealt with in the section on sports psychology related to injury.

Two psychological factors are important in the context of warm-up; these are rehearsal and arousal.

Rehearsal

Rehearsal will only take place when an athlete performs a specific warm-up, with actions relevant to the sport to be performed in competition. During the warm-up, the athlete is re-familiarizing him- or herself with the skilled movements required by a sport. Confidence is improved, and the athlete may be more relaxed following this practice.

When an athlete is performing a skilled task, a period of rest followed by resumption of the same task may result in impaired performance. This phenomenon is called warm-up decrement (WUD), and is well documented (Adams, 1961; Schmidt, 1982).

Definition

Warm-up decrement is the gradual loss of the effects of the warm-up in the period between the warm-up and competition.

A number of explanations have been suggested to account for WUD. At a basic level it is seen as simply forgetting an aspect of the motor skill. Nacson and Schmidt (1971) suggested that WUD results from a loss of ‘activity set’. They claimed that a number of variables such as arousal level and attention had to be adjusted (tuned) to a specific task. With practice, the adjustments reach an optimal level, which is reduced with rest. They showed that WUD could be reduced if, during the rest period, a completely different movement was practised. This second movement could not contribute to the memory of the first task, but did require a similar activity set to the original skill.

So far, we have dealt with skills which were practised during the warm-up period to improve subsequent sporting performance. Where one type of training has a direct effect on another, a transfer effect is taking place.

Definition

A transfer effect is the interaction between two similar forms of training. An activity set is a group of variables which are adjusted or ‘tuned’ to a specific physical task.

When the practice of one task improves the performance of another, positive transfer is occurring. However, if during a warm-up skills are practised which are different to those needed for competition, they may interfere with the learning process and negative transfer can occur. Here, performance suffers because a slightly different skill, with a different activity set, is remembered. An example would be practising tennis strokes with a racquet of different weight and size to that of the one used in competition.

Arousal

The second psychological effect of warm-up is that of arousal. The relationship between level of arousal and performance is demonstrated by the inverted-U hypothesis (Fig. 4.5). In a plot of arousal level against performance, initially increased arousal correlates initially with improved performance. But, as arousal continues to increase, an optimal level is reached. Above this point, further arousal is detrimental to performance.

Figure 4.5 Relationship between arousal and performance.

The point of optimum arousal is related to the psychological profile of the athlete and the complexity of the task to be performed. Activities which require fine muscular control (such as archery) or involve important decision-making (such as wicket-keeping) generally require lower arousal levels. Where actions involve gross muscular actions without fine control and without complex decision-making (power-lifting, for example) a higher level of arousal is generally required.

The function of warm-up, therefore, must be to psychologically prepare the athlete, and place him or her at the level of arousal appropriate to the task to be undertaken. A highly motivated (aroused) athlete may need to be relaxed prior to a complex activity. Conversely, a poorly motivated athlete due to compete in a strength event may need to be ‘psyched up’ to an increased arousal level.

Keypoint

A warm-up should psychologically prepare an athlete, and place him or her at a level of arousal appropriate to the task to be performed.

Warm-up technique

The intensity and duration of the warm-up period will depend on both the type of activity to be undertaken and the athlete’s fitness. A fitter athlete competing at a high level will take longer to warm-up as the body’s thermoregulatory system will be more efficient.

During cold weather it will take longer for the body’s core temperature to increase, and so the warm-up should be longer or more vigorous. A warm-up should generally be of sufficient intensity and duration to raise the body’s core temperature by 1–2°C, recognized by the onset of mild sweating. The warm-up effects may persist for 45–80 minutes, the time variation being dependent on the rate of heat loss (DeVries, 1980).

Practically, the warm-up may be divided into three parts: pulse raising, mobility and rehearsal (Norris, 2002).