The Activity-Set Hypothesis for Warm-up Decrement in a Movement Balance Task

This study investigated the activity-set hypothesis in reducing warm-up decrement. With regard to the hypothesis, it is predicted that warm-up decrement, which is a temporary loss of skill performance following rest, could be reduced if an appropriate reinstating activity were engaged in just prior to the resumption of practice. Seventyfive subjects were given twenty 20-sec tests on the stabilometer (criterion task), and then either (a) rested, (b) rested and then performed on interpolated “activity-set” task, or (c) rested and then performed an interpolated “activation” task. All subjects, after receiving one of the three conditions were then retested on the stabilometer for an additional six trials. An analysis of planned comparisons showed that the activity-set interpolated task was effective in reducing warmup decrement and that activation was not a factor.