Warm up benefits

03/10/2009 by admin.

All too often I see people get straight into their exercise programme without a sensible warm up.  The warm up only need take 5 minutes and is vitally important to having a successful session.  First of all it prepares your mind for what’s ahead and gives your mind an opportunity to swich off from your previous activities, eg work.  The warm up also serves to prepare the body for exercise.  Some benefits of warm up are:

• Reduced injury risk due to increased body and muscle temperature
• Makes carbohydrates and fatty acids available as energy due to hormonal changes
• Makes more oxygen available for exercise due to increased blood temperature
• Releases synovial fluid in your joints, which is a protective fluid.
• Increases your range of movement
• Lowers stress on the heart, as blood vessels dilate
• Enhances speed and strength of movement due to increased muscle temperature

If you are in a gym then the rower or cross trainer are good warm up pieces of equipment due to the fact that they work the whole body as opposed to just arms or legs.  If you are outdoors then break into a light jog.  Start of gently and over the course of approx. 5 minutes gradually increase your effort to the point where you are slightly out of breath.

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