Warm up for cardiovascular exercise: Decrease risk of injury and improve performance

Abstract

With Hawaii being home to thousands of athletes and cardiovascular exercise enthusiasts, it is beneficial and important for those who engage in cardiovascular exercise and activities to know how to warm up properly. Understanding the benefits and importance of a proper warm up routine prior to performing cardiovascular exercise may decrease the risk of injury and improve overall performance. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a web-based instructional module on proper warm-up techniques for cardiovascular exercise for adult learners. A total of 17 research participants took part in the study, most of who exercise on a regular basis. The results of the study showed a 17 percent increase from pre- to post-test scores. Due to the small sample size of this research study, additional research should be conducted to inform the public about warming up before performing cardiovascular exercise, with hopes that fewer injuries will occur and people will be able to push themselves to their full potential.