Most athletes and exercise enthusiasts are well aware of the importance of a proper warm-up prior to physical activity. A warm-up helps improve performance and decrease the risk of injury. However, the question becomes: how do we know if we are warming up correctly and effectively?
Here are some tips recently released in my new book – (affiliate link) Soccer Injury Prevention and Treatment: A Guide to Optimal Performance for Players, Parents, and Coaches – for how to make the warm-up process more beneficial for everyone:
Practice Active Movements Rather than Prolonged Stretches
Studies show that a prolonged stretch just prior to a competition can actually lead to decreased performance. Active movements (such as light jogging) increase blood flow and improve the ability of the muscle to contract and relax. Prolonged stretches are an important tool for the improvement of flexibility but should be done after a competition.
Perform Movements That Mimic the Activity/Sport
In the case of soccer, this means simple passing and movement drills before going into the game. Doing this targets and prepares the specific muscles needed for the activity.
An effective warm up is integral to improving performance and reducing the risk of injury for athletes and exercise enthusiasts at all levels. No matter the activity, devoting a few moments to a warm-up before setting out can prevent months of rehab due to an injury.
A good rule of thumb is that the athlete should be sweating prior to engaging in more dynamic athletic activity. Depending on the athlete’s sport and position, different musculature is used more often than others.
If you look at the end-lines of any Major League Soccer game, you will see a group of players continually moving through a circuit of light jogging and agility drills designed to keep their legs warm and ready for action. These athletes know their bodies well enough to understand that they cannot just jump into the game directly from the bench. Staying loose and flexible will keep them ready to go at a moment’s notice and, most importantly, will keep them safe from injury.
Importance of Hydration
When talking about a warm-up routine and getting ready for a game, hydration becomes an important factor and something that coaches and athletes should focus on. Just as it’s important for youth athletes to learn their sport’s drills and skills, it’s crucial for them to have knowledge of how the body works and how to take care of it. Water should be readily available during all athletic activity and water breaks should be programmed in to all practice schedules, especially if the environment is high-risk.
How to Hydrate
Coaches, parents, and athletic trainers should encourage their athletes to pre-hydrate prior to activity. This process begins about 72 hours in advance of competition, but hydration should be thought of as a good maintenance practice to include in the daily routine. The FDA recommends drinking six to eight, eight-ounce glasses of water per day for a normal healthy lifestyle. This recommendation is universal, and is a good practice to keep the body in peak physical condition.
During activity, athletes should rehydrate with six ounces of fluid every 15 minutes. Sports drinks are fine, but keep in mind that most sports drinks contain large amounts of sugar that are not necessary to the hydration process. In a very hot or humid setting, too much sports drink can cause nausea, bloating and diarrhea. Water is usually sufficient for hydration.
Don’t Overdo it
Spending too much energy during the warm up can lead to fatigue, which can result in decreased performance and greater chance of injury. This becomes particularly evident in baseball and softball when a player throws too much or too hard prior to going into the game. Remember to keep all warm ups simple and light.

The dynamic president of JAG Physical Therapy, John Gallucci, Jr., MS, ATC, PT, DPT, is in demand for his expertise in injury prevention, rehabilitation, sports medicine and athletic conditioning. He has appeared often on radio and television, including ESPN’s award-winning “Outside the Lines”, Fox 5, PIX 11, MSG Varsity, NJ News 12, WFAN and is a popular public speaker.
Gallucci has made a major impact in his fields throughout the New York/New Jersey area, and holds a national presence in the sports medicine community. JAG Physical Therapy now offers comprehensive orthopedic outpatient centers in New York City, West Orange, Warren, Cedar Knolls, Union, Hackensack, Woodbridge and Princeton New Jersey.
Currently, John is the Medical Coordinator for Major League Soccer (MLS), coordinating the medical care of more than 500 professional soccer players. Gallucci is the former Head Trainer of the New York Red Bulls MLS team and is a Sports Medicine consultant for professional athletes in the NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, and USA Wrestling. John has also worked in the Athletic Departments of Columbia University, New York University and Long Island University, and has been a Clinical Instructor at Columbia University, Seton Hall University, Rutgers University, and Dominican College. John is the former Program Director of Barnabas Health’s Sport Medicine Institute and also serves as an appointed member on the New Jersey Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport. In the local community, John’s charitable efforts have included a leading role in fundraisers for Barnabas Health, The Valerie Fund, The LaConti Child Life Fund, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Arthritis Foundation, and The American Cancer Society. He supports more than 100 high schools, college programs and athletic clubs throughout the Tri-State Area.
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