A pre-exercise routine using active movement rather than passive heating to prepare the body.
An active warm-up involves dynamic, self-generated movement (e.g., jogging, dynamic stretching, sport-specific drills) performed before training or competition to raise core and muscle temperature, increase heart rate and blood flow, and rehearse movement patterns. It is typically contrasted with passive warm-up methods (external heating, massage) that raise tissue temperature without active exertion. Definitions of AWU vary across studies in duration, intensity, and content, so comparisons between protocols should be made cautiously.
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