Warm-up pre-run is so often overlooked. A good warm-up before a workout dilates your blood vessels, ensuring that your muscles are well supplied with oxygen. It also raises your muscles' temperature for optimal flexibility and efficiency. By slowly raising your heart rate, the warm-up also helps minimize stress on your heart.
Cooling down after a workout is as important as warming up. After physical activity, your heart is still beating faster than normal, your body temperature is higher and your blood vessels are dilated. This means if you stop too fast, you could pass out or feel sick. A cool-down after physical activity allows a gradual decrease at the end of the episode It’s good to stretch when you’re cooling down because your limbs, muscles and joints are still warm. Stretching can help reduce the build up of lactic acid, which can lead to muscles cramping and stiffness.
