Effect of Warm-up and Cool-down on Delayed-onset Muscle Soreness in University Students

The objective of this study is to determine the effects of warm-up and cool-down on muscle soreness following eccentric exercise.

A total 40 healthy university students were participated in the study (17–27 years).

Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire was taken from participants and Response as ‘No’ to all questions was considered as inclusion criteria. All participants were divided in four groups equally. Warm-up and cool down was done on treadmill. The exercise was designed to induce muscle soreness in the gastrocnemius muscle. Each exercise included 20 repetitions in three sets (3×20 repetitions).

Muscle soreness was measured on a visual analogue scale and 10-point numerical rating scale.

Analysis shows that Warm-up is more effective than Cool down in reducing Delayed onset muscle soreness.

Warm-up performed prior to eccentric exercise produces small reductions in delayed-onset muscle soreness but cool-down performed after does not.