Is The Cooling Routine As Important As The Heating Routine?

Is The Cooling Routine As Important As The Heating Routine?

There is a bit of debate among health and exercise experts about whether a Cooling routine is really necessary after an exercise routine, but as indicated by MayoClinic. com, everyone agrees that it does not hurt. Just as a warm-up routine prepares the body for increased temperature, heart rate, and muscular effort, a cooling routine sends signals to the body that tell it that things are going to get slow. A consistent cooling process can help regulate your blood flow and your breathing, prepare your muscles for repair and give you the opportunity to hydrate and rest.

The debate on cooling

Warming is rarely debated. There is some disagreement about whether stretching is a necessary component of a warm-up, but experts agree that heating is important. The cooling element is not so well established. Skeptics believe that it is a psychological myth that the body needs to cool down after exercise. Although the tendency is to promote it, some believe that its effects are not well studied and are unclear. In 2009, an article in "The New York Times" noted that the only thing that has been scientifically proven to be cooling is that it prevents blood from accumulating in your legs and feet, which can happen when you abruptly stop exercising.. Some exercise researchers say there is no evidence that you can prevent muscle pain or regulate your heart rate.

Heart Rate

Your heart rate rises during any cardiovascular exercise or during strength training. If you stop your intense routine suddenly without cooling down, you may get dizzy due to the drop in your heart rate and blood pressure. This can also contribute to blood build up in your legs. "Men's Fitness" reports that it is best to reduce your heart rate gradually, lowering it to between 100 to 120 beats per minute, so that your body does not feel the shock. Breathing slowly and deeply while you cool down will steady your breathing and lower your heart rate.

Stretching

According to many experts on the exercise, a good way to avoid muscle pain the day after an exercise routine, is to stretch your muscles during cooling. When exercising, your muscles are flexible, so stretching will maintain a healthy circulation throughout your body and allow your muscles to begin to repair themselves. This focus on muscle repair is as important during cooling as it is during your warm-up, when you are preparing your muscles to exercise. According to MayoClinic.com, stretching during cooling can also improve your skills and prevent injuries.

Hydration

Your body loses a lot of fluids during a routine that must be recovered. Giving your body enough water will help reduce muscle pain and fatigue. It will also give your body what it needs to increase its strength and flexibility as you cool down. Water is the best thing to drink during a cooling. Athletes can also take sports drinks and protein shakes to supply and hydrate their bodies.

Cooling methods

Some routines have an integrated mechanism for the cooling period. For example, most runners, stationary bikes and stair climbers incorporate at least 5 to 10 minutes of a slow pace into their scheduled routine. MayoClinic com recommends doing the same activity you were doing to exercise, just at a slower and less intense pace. For example, if you were swimming, your cooling may be a variation of strokes at a quiet pace. If you were running for 30 minutes, walk for five minutes. Take a little time to rest and breathe.

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