Which of the following is a component of a dynamic warm-up designed to reduce injury risk in team sports?

• A. General cardio
• B. Activation drills
• C. Static stretching
• D. Cool-down jog

Answer: (B)

Activation drills in a dynamic warm-up are about turning on the muscles and motor patterns you’ll rely on during sport. They specifically target key stabilizers and power muscles—glutes, core, hamstrings, hips—through brief, controlled movements so the nervous system recruits them correctly as soon as you start sprinting, changing direction, or jumping. This improved muscle activation and movement timing helps joints stay stable and lowers the chance of common injuries.

General cardio helps raise body temperature but doesn’t prime those specific muscle groups. Static stretching before activity isn’t shown to reduce injury risk and can temporarily reduce performance, while a cool-down jog happens after the session, not before. So including activation drills in a dynamic warm-up is the best approach for injury prevention in team sports.