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Effects of Different Warm-Up Strategies on Intermittent Performance and Physiological Responses in High-Level Water Polo Players

delete2026-07-29
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OA
AI
J
João N. A. Dias
D
Daniel A. Marinho
L
Luís B. Faíl
K
Konstantinos Papadimitriou *
H
Henrique P. Neiva *
DOI:10.3390/jfmk11030297delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effects of three different warm-up protocols on performance, physiological, and perceptual responses in high-level water polo players. Methods: Ten international-level athletes (Tier 4; mean ± SD: age 22.4 ± 3.53 years; height 1.78 ± 0.06 m; body mass 75.83 ± 6.44 kg) completed three experimental conditions in a randomized, counterbalanced design: dryland, in-water, and combined warm-up. Following each warm-up condition, participants performed the Water Polo Intermittent Shuttle Test (WIST), while performance (distance covered and average speed), blood lactate concentration ([La−]), heart rate (HR), tympanic temperature, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Players covered greater distances following the in-water (331.5 ± 151.24 m) and combined (358.5 ± 134.06 m) warm-ups compared to dryland (226.5 ± 129.51 m; p < 0.01; ES = 2.00 and 1.53, respectively), with no significant differences between in-water and combined conditions (p = 0.381; ES = 0.29). Physiological responses following the WIST were largely similar between conditions, although [La−] was higher in the dryland condition (12.46 ± 4.46 mmol·L−1) compared to the combined condition at 10 min post-exercise (8.66 ± 2.47 mmol·L−1; p = 0.03; ES = 0.80). No differences were found for HR, tympanic temperature, or RPE. Conclusions: These findings suggest that warm-up protocols including an in-water component are more effective than dryland-only routines for optimizing intermittent performance in water polo players. However, combining dryland and in-water exercises does not appear to provide additional benefits compared to in-water warm-up alone.
Keywords:
pre-exercise
aquatic sports
specificity
intensity
lactate
heart rate

Journal

J
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
IF:
2.5
Papers:
1.0K
Citations:
1.8K

Organization

I
International Hellenic University
Scholars:
1.9K
Papers: 1.7K
Citations: 1.8K
U
University of Beira Interior
Scholars:
283
Papers: 123
Citations: 3.7K
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