The impact of warm-up intensity and duration on maximal effort limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters in healthy young adults

The impact of warm-up protocols on peak oxygen uptake (V̇o_2peak) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of warm-ups of different durations and intensities on V̇o_2peak in healthy young adults during maximal-effort CPET cycle ergometry. Recreationally active participants (10 males, 4 females; 27 ± 4 yr) performed five CPETs, each preceded by one of five randomized conditions: <i>1</i>) no warm-up (NWU), <i>2</i>) short-duration/low-intensity (SD/LI) warm-up (5 min at 0.5 W·kg^-1), <i>3</i>) long-duration/low-intensity (LD/LI) warm-up (10 min at 0.5 W·kg^-1), <i>4</i>) short-duration/moderate-intensity (SD/MI) warm-up (5 min at 1 W·kg^-1), and <i>5</i>) a long-duration/moderate-intensity (LD/MI) warm-up (10 min at 1 W·kg^-1). No significant differences were found in V̇o_2peak, peak heart rate, maximal, or submaximal power output across the different warm-up protocols (<i>P</i> > 0.05 for all comparisons), except for greater absolute HR and power output observed at the first ventilatory threshold (VT1) following SD/MI versus NWU (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Participant ratings of warm-up protocols indicated a preference for shorter- and/or lower-intensity warm-ups. Among healthy young adults, the inclusion of warm-up exercise before CPET has no significant effects on maximal exercise parameters. These findings question the necessity of warm-up before CPET and provide flexibility in CPET warm-up protocol selection in this population. Recapitulation of this study in alternative clinical and scientific populations is warranted.<b>NEW & NOTEWORTHY</b> The impact of warm-up intensity and duration before maximal effort cardiopulmonary exercise testing remains uncertain. Herein, we investigated the effect of a 5- versus 10-min warm-up performed at low or moderate intensity on maximal oxygen consumption. Compared with no warm-up, these different warm-ups yielded similar peak oxygen uptake, peak heart rate, and peak power output, thereby challenging the conventional notion that a warm-up is needed to optimize cardiopulmonary exercise testing.