THE BENEFITS OF WARMING UP Before Exercise
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or dedicated athlete, warming up before participating in any form of physical activity is extremely important. We always hear about the crucial aspect of proper warm-ups, but why exactly are they so crucial? Well, the truth is that while it may not seem like it at the time, warming up the body before engaging in an exercise of any sort can pose several benefits. The Importance of Proper Warm-Ups Stretching and proper warm-ups before exercise are arguably the most important in helping your body avoid injury. We understand that one of your primary goals is staying healthy so you can participate in your sport or exercise of choice. Our physiotherapists at The Physiotherapy Center can teach you warm-up routines that utilize light weights, resistance bands, or targeted stretches to get your body ready for physical activity. Some light cardio can also be beneficial in your warm- up routine, as the goal is to have your muscles warm and loosened up. When this happens, your muscle cells become oxygenated and ready to work. A physiotherapist can guide and assist you in perfecting your warm-up routine, similar to a personal trainer. Maintaining proper form during your warm-ups is just as important as maintaining it during your main exercise, and is one of the main keys to avoiding injury. Your physiotherapist will analyze your form to make sure you’re doing everything correctly in order to maximize results during your workout and help you get the most out of it. Warming Up Can Make All the Difference for Those Who Are Aging and Active As we age, our bodies simply aren’t as limber as they used to be – putting us at risk for exercise-related injuries. Proper warm-ups are a great resource for those who still want to remain active but may be prone to injuries or at a higher risk of developing injuries. A physiotherapist can help you figure out where your problem areas are, so you can perform the correct warm-up routine
for your needs. A routine that consists of a combination of exercises, stretches, and pain-relieving techniques that target areas where injuries are likely to occur is one of the best ways to avoid injury in the aging and active adult. Additionally, your physiotherapist can also help you target poor techniques and correct them. They will focus more on the areas of your body that are repeatedly stressed and overused by your sport or exercise, thus determining your likelihood of injury and suggesting the best warm-up techniques for keeping you safe during physical activity. Additional Benefits of Warming Up Before Exercise While injury prevention is the main benefit, there are many ways that warming up helps your body. Some additional benefits include: 1. Reducing muscle tension. When your body isn’t warmed up, it becomes tense and tight. Tense and tight muscles have restricted blood flow and may not activate as effectively. Stretching and light exercises before a workout help to alleviate this tension and help muscles expand and contract more efficiently. 2. Increasing range of motion in your joints. Joints that move better, work better! Warming up helps your joints move fluidly and throughout their full range of motion. This improves movement efficiency and function, which means better performance. 3. Improving circulation. In addition to improving muscle mechanics, the enhanced circulation that warm-ups bring can also accelerate the recovery of painful areas, reduce post-workout soreness, and increase your energy levels. 4. Helping with stress relief. There’s a strong link between physical tension and mental tension. By alleviating physical tension with a consistent warm-up routine, you can ease psychological stress, too. Plus, evidence shows that stretching and/or participating in light exercises before a workout improves your “psychological readiness” and helps you get your head in the game.
25 Eclipse Drive, P. O. Box 10742 George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1007
Phone : (345) 943-8700 Fax : (345) 943-8701
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