## 1 Introduction  
Muscle damage is one of the most common issues that today's athletes face, whether they are amateurs or professionals [1]. Indeed, skeletal muscle injuries account for more than 30% of injuries evident in sports medicine consultations, according to [PERSON] et al. [2]. As a result, it is essential to employ the most effective methods to prevent these injuries. Several prior studies have suggested that warming up may play an important role in reducing muscle damage, whereas other investigations have found no positive effects. In fact, the significance of stretching and warming up in reducing musculoskeletal injuries has been debated. Some studies found no reduction in injury risk or the total number of injuries [3], whereas others found positive effects and reduced neuromuscular injuries after stretching or warming up programs [4]. Therefore, a number of investigations has found that the justifications supporting the preventive function of warming up and stretching on muscle damage are insufficient [5; 6]. Several studies have found a link between an increase in free radicals and hence oxidative stress and the development of muscle injury [7].  
Furthermore, studies on the effects of anaerobic exercise on oxidative stress are few in comparison to studies on the effects of aerobic exercise [8; 9]. These studies, however, reveal an increase in oxidative stress following supramaximal exercise. To defend against the potentially harmful effects of oxidative stress, organisms have anti-free radical defense systems that involve a variety of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD); glutathione peroxidase (GPX); catalase and non-enzymatic antioxidants (Vitamin E and C; zinc; selenium; copper; uric acid) [10]. In addition to the role of the body's anti-free radical system, many strategies for limiting and modalities for preventing the increase in pro-oxidants have been proposed in the sports field, such as variation in duration, intensity and type of exercise [11], and the type of recovery [12; 13]. Recent research has focused on proving an increase in total antioxidant status after anaerobic exercise in amateur athletes [14].  
Warming up helps prepare the muscles for exercise by increasing their contractile capacity [15] and decreasing muscle and tendon viscoelasticity [16]. Warming up has been shown to increase the energy supply to the muscles, increase the rate of nerve impulse transmission, reduce internal viscosity, and increase muscle activation, strength, blood supply, and oxygen to the working muscle [17; 18; 19]. The effects of warming up on cardiorespiratory functions [20], the psychological state [21], and the risk of injury [22] have been well documented. However, its impact on oxidative stress indicators has received little attention. In this regard, we propose to conduct a study to evaluate the potential short-term influence of varied warm-up durations on muscle injury prevention and the evolution of oxidative stress biomarkers after anaerobic exercise in young amateur handball players. Therefore, we hypothesize that a 15-min warm-up could regulate and favorably attenuate the negative effects of oxidative stress, potentially reducing muscle damage after anaerobic exercise.