Warm Up

Warm Up


Everyone who’s ever dedicated themselves to exercise for any period of time has probably found themselves either mildly annoyed by a coach’s insistence on a proper warmup or tempted to skip it altogether.

But a new study outlines how the heat generated during even light warmups affects the contraction of different muscles, and how it might benefit anyone trying to boost their athletic performance.

The study, led by researchers at Japan’s Osaka University, built on their previous study that looked at how our heart muscles are affected by temperature.

In the new study, they wanted to learn how skeletal muscles react to changes in temperature.

Using advanced microscopes and muscle proteins, the scientists found that some proteins in muscle cells act as temperature sensors and that heat affects skeletal muscle and cardiac systems differently.

In short: Skeletal muscles that allow us to bend, jump or stretch as we exercise are more sensitive to heat than those in the heart.

They say that’s because skeletal muscle only needs to generate a specific amount of force and only when required — say, when a pitcher throws a ball. But our hearts beat constantly throughout our lives.

Even a light warmup allows skeletal muscle to contract relatively quickly, so the muscle can conserve energy when it’s not engaged.

The discovery that some muscle proteins act as temperature sensors may even help those who aren’t heavy exercisers. For instance, warmup routines could help older folks improve their movement, thus reducing their injury risk and allowing them to remain independent.

When it comes to warmups, the best advice? Just do it.

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