Why should I warm up and cool down?
There are numerous health benefits associated with performing an effective warm up and cool down before and after sport or activity. These include:
- Reduced likelihood of injury
- Improved athletic performance
- Greater mental concentration
- Improved fitness
- Faster recovery from activity
- Improved flexibility
What is the purpose of a warm up?
The purpose of an effective warm up is to increase your heart rate and body temperature and to facilitate blood flow to the muscles to be used during the activity. This increase in blood flow, heart rate and body temperature during the warm up improves the elasticity of both muscles and joints, alerts neural pathways and stimulates muscles in preparation for performance. An effective warm up will also help to evenly distribute lubricating fluid throughout the joints to be used therefore reducing friction during movement.
Benefits of cool down
An appropriate cool down following sport or activity is essential for the body’s recovery process. Not only will an effective cool down assist with decreasing muscle soreness in the following days, but it will also assist in reducing muscle shortening and injury likelihood. Furthermore, an effective cool down will improve performance for the next session, especially if the sport or activity is required shortly after.
Basic warm up and cool down
If have no warm up or cool down in your present routine and your exercise routine includes activities like jogging/running, gym work or cycling then follow these basic guidelines for warm up and cool down.
How long should I warm up for?
Try to aim for 5-10 minutes of warm up activities.
How to warm up
The first phase of a warm up should involve a low intensity cardiovascular exercise such as light jogging or walking to increase the heart rate and blood flow to muscles.
You can then progress to dynamic stretching. This is when you go into a stretch but do not hold it i.e. lunges, heel kicks etc.
After dynamic stretches you should then gradually work into your activity with increasing intensity as able.
Basic cool down
Now is the time when you add in your slow stretches. Take particular care to ensure you are stretching each muscle group that has had to work during your activity. At this stage the stretch should be slow and controlled, holding for 10-40 seconds, repeat each stretch 2 times depending on comfort. Do not bounce into the stretch and do not reproduce pain – only mild discomfort transient with the stretch may be felt.
Advanced warm up and cool down
If you already have some warm up routine and/or take part in team activities or sports to a more advanced level try this advanced warm up.
How long should I warm up for?
A warm should be 15-20 minutes in duration and should progress through a variety of stages and warm up activities.
How to warm up
As a general guideline, an effective warm up should produce mild sweating without fatigue and should progress through four phases:
Warm up – Phase 1
The first phase of a warm up should involve a low intensity cardiovascular exercise such as light jogging or walking to increase the heart rate and blood flow to muscles. This phase of the warm up should last for 5-10 mins.
Warm up – Phase 2
The second phase of the warm up should involve dynamic range of movement exercises to loosen up the joints and muscles to be used. This phase of the warm up should focus on those specific body parts to be used for that particular sport. These warm up stretches should be dynamic rather than static as static stretches will decrease heart rate and cause a cooling effect thereby opposing the goals of a warm up. Some examples of dynamic warm up stretches include: lunges, squats, lower back rotations, trunk rotations, leg kicks, arm rotations etc.
Warm up – Phase 3
The third phase of a warm up should entail warm up activities involving agility, acceleration, deceleration and speed drills, preparing your body for faster movements that will be required for your particular sport. This should involve a gradual progression starting at low intensity and building up to greater intensity. This phase of the warm up may involve, for example, repeated strides, initially in straight lines and at low intensities and then progressing to change of direction and greater intensities.
Warm up – Phase 4
The fourth and final phase of a warm up is the sport specific phase. This is where you perform the skills involved in your particular sport, initially at low intensity and then building up to greater intensity. For example, footballers may perform warm up activities such as running, jumping drills and kicking for goal, basket ballers may perform dribbling, passing, shooting and rebounding etc. By the end of this phase of the warm up you should be performing your particular skill at 100%, thereby ensuring you body is ready to perform the required skills in a match situation at 100%.
Advanced cool down
Now is the time when you add in your slow stretches. Take particular care to ensure you are stretching each muscle group that has had to work during your activity. At this stage the stretch should be slow and controlled, holding for 10-40 seconds, repeat each stretch 2 times depending on comfort. Do not bounce into the stretch and do not reproduce pain – only mild discomfort transient with the stretch may be felt.
If you have any questions about sports injuries or injury prevention contact: info@unitedhealthkent.com
