Does the addition of lower-body aerobic exercise as a warm-up improve upper-body resistance training performance more than a specific warm-up alone?

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether the addition of lower-body aerobic exercise as a warm-up (LGW) improves upper-body resistance training (RT) performance more than a specific warm-up (SW) alone and to investigate whether maximal muscular strength modulates the performance-enhancing effect of LGW. Design: Randomized crossover design. Methods: Fourteen male participants performed 3 sets of 80%1RM bench press under two warm-up conditions. In one con dition, the participants performed only a SW for the bench press exercise. In the other condition (LGW + SW), the participants performed cycling for 20 minutes and the SW for the bench press exercise. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the total number of repetitions (REPTOTAL) and the mean propulsive velocity (MPV) of the barbell during the concentric phase between the SW and LGW + SW. Also, 1RM did not modu late the relationship between SW and LGW + SW for REPTOTAL and maximum MPV among all sets. Conclusion: This study suggests that the LGW in addition to the SW does not have large additional effects on performance during upper-body RT. In addition, maximal muscular strength does not modulate the performance-enhancing effect of the LGW on upper-body RT performed at 80%1RM.