Background: Sometimes muscles and tendons get injured when a person starts doing an activity before they have warmed up properly. A warm up is a slow increase in the intensity of a physical activity that prepares muscles for an activity. Warming up increases the blood flow to the muscles and increases the heart rate. Warmed-up muscles and tendons are less likely to get injured. For example, before running or playing soccer, a person might jog slowly to warm muscles and increase their heart rate. Even elite athletes need to warm up ( Figure below ).

Situation: Beth and Sally are both on the high school basketball team and are about to play a match against their rival school. This match is extremely important, and students from both schools always turn out in droves to support their team. Last year, Beth and Sally's team lost so they are extra motivated this year to win. Before the game, Beth spends her time running in place and doing jumping jacks to prepare, and Sally spends her time talking to her friends who are sitting in the bleachers cheering the team on.

Question: Who is more likely to be injured during the game?
Answer: Sally

Situation: Beth and Sally are both on the high school basketball team and are about to play a match against their rival school. This match is extremely important, and students from both schools always turn out in droves to support their team. Last year, Beth and Sally's team lost so they are extra motivated this year to win. Before the game, Beth spends her time running in place and doing jumping jacks to prepare, and Sally spends her time talking to her friends who are sitting in the bleachers cheering the team on.

Question: Who is less likely to be injured during the game?
Answer: Beth

Situation: Beth and Sally are both on the high school basketball team and are about to play a match against their rival school. This match is extremely important, and students from both schools always turn out in droves to support their team. Last year, Beth and Sally's team lost so they are extra motivated this year to win. Before the game, Beth spends her time running in place and doing jumping jacks to prepare, and Sally spends her time talking to her friends who are sitting in the bleachers cheering the team on.

Question: Are Sally's muscles more or less ready for the game than Beth's?
Answer: less

Situation: Beth and Sally are both on the high school basketball team and are about to play a match against their rival school. This match is extremely important, and students from both schools always turn out in droves to support their team. Last year, Beth and Sally's team lost so they are extra motivated this year to win. Before the game, Beth spends her time running in place and doing jumping jacks to prepare, and Sally spends her time talking to her friends who are sitting in the bleachers cheering the team on.

Question: Are Beth's muscles more or less ready for the game than Sally's?
Answer: more

Situation: Beth and Sally are both on the high school basketball team and are about to play a match against their rival school. This match is extremely important, and students from both schools always turn out in droves to support their team. Last year, Beth and Sally's team lost so they are extra motivated this year to win. Before the game, Beth spends her time running in place and doing jumping jacks to prepare, and Sally spends her time talking to her friends who are sitting in the bleachers cheering the team on.

Question: Who has more blood flowing to their muscles?
Answer: Beth

Situation: Beth and Sally are both on the high school basketball team and are about to play a match against their rival school. This match is extremely important, and students from both schools always turn out in droves to support their team. Last year, Beth and Sally's team lost so they are extra motivated this year to win. Before the game, Beth spends her time running in place and doing jumping jacks to prepare, and Sally spends her time talking to her friends who are sitting in the bleachers cheering the team on.

Question: Who has less blood flowing to their muscles?
Answer: Sally