subject: 8 Reasons to Warm Up Before You Exercise [print this page] 8 Reasons to Warm Up Before You Exercise 8 Reasons to Warm Up Before You Exercise
There are many reasons to warm up prior to exercise, and I consider it an essential part of your workout regimen. In this article I will list the, in my opinion, eight most important reasons for warming up.
1. The temperature of the muscle is increased
We warm up partly to warm up our muscles, because a warm muscle can contract (tighten) and relax much faster than a cold muscle. This vastly improves the strength and explosiveness of your muscles, and it also significantly lowers the risk of muscular injury.
2. The body temperature increases
Warming up also causes your body temperature to go up, which helps lower the risk for pulling a muscle, as well as help the body cope with the wear and tear of the following exercise.
3. It makes the body more elastic
Warming up loosens up your joints, which improves their elasticity. A flexible, dynamic body is not only more injury-resistant, it's a pleasure to work with, making your exercise a lot more fun that it would otherwise have been!
4. It expands the body's blood vessels
Warming up causes a temporary expansion of your blood vessels, which helps reduce cardiac stress (the wear and tear of your heart muscle) as well as bring more oxygenized blood to your muscles.
5. It makes you sweat
During warm-up, your body's cooling system will engage, and sweating will ensue. Sweating regulates your body temperature, and this helps you avoid overheating in the early stages of the exercise. As an added bonus, it aids in clearing out your pores.
6. The temperature of the blood goes up
As the blood's temperature increases, its ability to retain oxygen is hampered. This may sound like a bad thing, but it isn't. In this case, when the blood's ability to contain oxygen decreases, more oxygen will be transferred to your muscles, allowing them to work a little bit harder. This means a slight increase in strength and endurance.
7. It stimulates your hormone production
When your hormone production is stimulated, your energy levels increase. It also amplifies the burning process for carbohydrates and fatty acids, which makes it very helpful for anyone looking to lose weight (which most people, including professionals, are).
8. It's an important aspect of the mental preparation
The warm-up is a place for mental preparation, allowing you to make yourself ready for the coming workout. It helps you clear your head and focus, and this mental boost can make for a lofty improvement of the exercise quality.
Hopefully this has inspired you to add a warm-up session before your exercise regimen!
