Warm-Up Methods Adopted by Brazilian Elite Sprint Coaches: Practical Insights From a National Survey

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the warm-up strategies currently adopted by Brazilian sprint coaches working with national- and international-level sprinters. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted with 31 sprint coaches. The structured, prevalidated questionnaire included 40 items addressing warm-up objectives, structure, duration, monitoring, barriers, and the use of preactivation and post-activation performance enhancement strategies. RESULTS: Sprint coaches emphasized physiological and neuromuscular objectives such as increasing muscle temperature, blood flow, and motor unit recruitment, alongside mental readiness. Warm-ups typically combined mobility activities, dynamic stretching, accelerations, and sprint-specific drills. Almost all coaches (97%) perceived warm-up routines as performance-enhancing, with 90% recognizing their role in injury prevention. Most coaches (68%) incorporated post-activation performance enhancement strategies, mainly using short sprints and plyometrics, while 81% implemented precompetition preparation routines 6 to 48 hours before competition. Subjective tools like rate of perceived exertion were the primary methods for intensity monitoring, and warm-up protocols were frequently individualized. CONCLUSIONS: Brazilian sprint coaches employ multifactorial, individualized, and evidence-informed warm-up strategies that align with scientific recommendations. Despite contextual barriers, such as limited facilities, and athlete motivation coaches effectively integrate post-activation performance enhancement and priming strategies to optimize sprint performance.