Final answer:
The warm-up period for athletes to peak muscle performance is known as treppe, or the staircase effect, since muscle tension increases gradually similar to climbing stairs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The warm-up period required of athletes to bring their muscles to peak performance is called treppe. When skeletal muscles are dormant and then suddenly activated to contract, the initial contractions produce approximately half the force of later contractions, with the tension increasing in a manner similar to a staircase, which is why it's also called the "staircase effect". This graded increase in muscle tension occurs because the early contractions increase the heat in the muscle, which improves enzyme efficiency and muscle elasticity, allowing for more forceful contractions as the warm-up continues.