THE EFFECTS OF THERMOREGULATION ON MUSCULAR VASODILATION TO IMPROVE PEAK POWER OUTPUT IN AN UPPER ARM WINGATE TEST

A. Touhey, I. Tichenor, R. Tamanaha, B. Houlihan, K. York, J. McKenzie Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA Active warm up increases muscular blood flow, but uses ATP stores. Muscular vasodilation allows for more gas exchange at working muscles. PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of passive heating compared to an active warm up, on peak power. METHODS: 11 subjects were assessed 3 times each. The first assessment consisted of an upper body wingate for familiarization. The next two trials were counterbalanced and consisted of one wingate preceded by an active warm up (5 minutes of cranking with no resistance) and the other preceded by a passive warm up (10 min. arm heating at 40ºC). In each trial, peak power (PP), standardized peak power (PPS), mean power (MP), pre-Wingate arm temperature, and post Wingate arm temperature were recorded. RESULTS: A paired samples T-test (mean ± SD) concluded significant differences between mean power (190.23 ± 94.3, p= .001), actual peak power (272.76 ± 129.41, p= .001), and standardized peak power (4.00 ± 1.62, p= .025), with the heated conditions yielding greater values relative to the active warm up. Surface temperature of the skin was also significantly higher prior to exercise in the heated condition (38.24 ± 1.61, p= .002), and significantly lower following exercise (36.74 ± 1.22, p= .002). CONCLUSION: Thermal heating of the arms was determined to be more effective than physical warm ups, through the production of a larger peak power. Skin temperatures were significantly higher prior to exercise in the heating condition, signifying greater vasodilation and metabolic activity. We can conclude that thermal heating of local extremities aided in the stimulation of metabolic processes to increase the effectiveness of exercise