Acute Effects of Different Warm-Up Protocols in Competitive Young Swimmers

University of Palermo

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Performance; Warm-up; Countermovement Jump; Athletes; Post Activation Potentiation

Treatments: Other: Vertical jump after dropping from a box; Other: Squats with resistance band; Other: Combination BS + DJ

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07240597

62141-2025-2

311/2025 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Several warm-up strategies are commonly employed by athletes to optimize athletic performance and minimize the risk of injury. Recently, Post-Activation Performance Enhancement (PAPE) has been demonstrated to be effective in improving athletic performance. Nevertheless, the difference with the general warm-up is still unclear and poorly studied. Conventionally, short-term performance improvements achieved after brief periods of maximal activity have been attributed to PAP, a muscle memory mechanism that generates involuntary and short-lived effects (~28 seconds). This condition appears to be activated only by a history of localized maximal contractions. In the literature, various conditioning protocols with differing durations and intensities have been explored, often finding conflicting results in terms of athletic performance. In swimming, few PAPE warm-up protocols outside the pool have been studied, despite their potential usefulness considering the waiting times before competitions.

Therefore, this study explores the effects of three different warm-up protocols in young swimmers. Specifically, different exercise protocols will be included in the athletes' usual warm-up routine, aimed at improving athletic performance through PAPE effects. In line with existing literature, the performance parameters examined are the countermovement jump (CMJ) and the times recorded for covering race distances ( 25 m, 50 m, 100 m). In addition, skin temperature, heart rate (HR), muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2), and perceived exertion (RPE) are also measured after the protocols to investigate possible relationships with performance measures. Nevertheless, the primary aim of this study is to compare different warm-up protocols in young swimmers to maximize their athletic performance.

Full description

All outcome data will be expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The first warm-up section for all athletes will take place in the pool. Subsequently, baseline assessments (T0) will be conducted. Through a randomized study design, each participant will perform three plyometric protocols (squats with elastic bands, box jumps, or a combination of both).

To examine differences in the main outcomes, a repeated-measures ANOVA (4 conditions x 5 time points) will be conducted. When a significant condition × time interaction is detected, post hoc analyses to determine specific between and within-group differences. Effect sizes will be reported as partial eta squared (η²p). Statistical significance will be set at p < 0.05 for all analyses

Enrollment: 15 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 11 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Active participation in competitive training programs (at least 10 hours per week), at least one year of experience in competitions organized by the Italian Swimming Federation, and no recent injuries.
• Experience of resistance training for at least 6 months

Exclusion criteria

• Irregular training participation
• History of injuries in the 6 months prior to the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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15 participants in 4 patient groups

Band Squats (BS)

Experimental group

Description:

The band squats protocol consists of four sets of four repetitions with two minutes of recovery between sets. Four elastic bands of different resistance will be tested for each participant, and the correct band will be used. During the protocol, subjects will stop at the same depth as a swimming start, with a knee angle between 135 and 145°. All subjects will receive verbal encouragement during the performance in the same way.

Treatment:

Other: Squats with resistance band

Drop Jump (DJ)

Experimental group

Description:

The drop jump protocol consists of three sets of five repetitions of jumping after falling from a 45 cm box, with a fifteen-second break to reposition over the box and three minutes of recovery between sets.

Treatment:

Other: Vertical jump after dropping from a box

Band Squats (BS) + Drop Jump (DJ)

Experimental group

Description:

A combination of the band squats and the drop jumps

Treatment:

Other: Combination BS + DJ

Control Group (CG)

No Intervention group

Description:

Control Group