Importance Of Cool Downs During Aerobics

It's easy to just stop your workout and go take a shower, eliminating any kind of cool down. But you are missing an integral part of your workout if you skip the cool-down phase. Though it's healthy, exercise is stressful on the body. It needs time to recover after strenuous physical activity, and a proper cool down allows you to do just that. After your aerobic workout, take five minutes to cool down and keep your body safe and healthy.

Cardiovascular Safety

After exercise, you should take part in five minutes of low-intensity activity. For your cardiovascular system, it is important to bring both your heart rate and blood pressure down gently and easily. An abrupt cessation of activity can lead to a fatal heart arrhythmia caused by a high circulation of catecholamines, states Jack Wilmore and David Costill, authors of the book "Physiology of Sport and Exercise."

Repair

During exercise, your muscles are working hard, and it is not uncommon for small tears and damage to occur inside muscle fibers. A cool-down period allows for adequate blood flow to remove waste buildup that may exacerbate these injuries. Your risk for muscle soreness in the days after exercise decreases if you follow your workout by cooling down.

Blood Flow

The demand on your heart is high during exercise; an increase in physical work means an increase in the demand for blood. The force of your muscles contracting during physical activity puts a force on your veins that helps to "milk" blood back up to your heart. Once blood is returned to the heart, it is re-oxygenated and used again. If you stop exercise abruptly, this mechanism stops as well, which can result in blood pooling inside the muscles. Not only is this bad for the muscles, but it is also bad for your heart and brain, because less blood is coming back up. This can result in dizziness or even a fainting spell.

How To

Your cool down should last between five and 10 minutes. After your workout, gently slow down your movement and exercise at a low intensity for five minutes. For example, if you are jogging, slow down and walk for five minutes. Then precede your low-intensity activity with stretching. Be sure to stretch the muscles in particular that you used during your activity. Be thorough and take as much time as you need.