Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Maureen Dunn, Kinesiology
Document Type
Poster
Event Date
4-17-2026
Abstract
Purpose This study evaluated the effects of passive heating on sprint performance in Division III Track and Field athletes. Methods Sixteen participants (n=16; F=8) were recruited from a Division III Track and Field program. Participants completed three visits: one familiarization visit, and two experimental visits, during which they sprinted under different temperature conditions. A standard sprinting warm up was completed at the beginning of each experimental session. After warming up, heating pads were wrapped around participants’ thighs during a 30-minute simulated pre-race period. Pads were set to 166℉ or turned off. Sprint performance was measured using a 40 meter dash on an indoor track. Skin temperature was taken 5 times using an infrared thermometer on the quadriceps (Q) and hamstring (HAM) for a total of 10 measurements per session (pre-warm up, post warm up, post 30 minutes heating, pre-sprint, and post-sprint). Results No significant difference (p = 0.078) was found in sprint time between the heat (H, 5.34±0.36s) and placebo (P, 5.38±0.35s) trials. When comparing skin temperatures in the H and P trials, temperatures were significantly higher (p<0.001) at time points 3 (Q 36.18±1.58℃, HAM 35.84±1.74℃), 4 (Q 32.66±1.06℃, HAM 32.82±1.38℃), and 5 (Q 31.99±1.08℃, HAM 32.41±1.11℃) in the heat condition for both Q and HAM. Discussion No significant improvements in sprint time were observed when using heating pads during a 30-minute simulated pre-race time period. However, no significant decreases in time were observed. Heating pads could be left to the discretion of the athlete and their personal preference before competing. Future research is needed and should examine the effects of different heating times, temperatures, and sprint distances.
Recommended Citation
Repository citation: Adamski, Lauren; Devers, Nile; Schermerhorn, Sara; and Raymond, Sophia, "The Effect of Passive Heating on Sprint Performance in Division III Track and Field Athletes" (2026). 25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026). Paper 1.
https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/curca_25/1
April 17, 2026. Copyright © 2026 Hope College, Holland, Michigan.
Comments
This work was supported by the Constantin Kinesiology Student Research Fund.
One author's name appears on poster but not in the abstract booklet: Nigel Jiwan.