How important are the warm-up and cool-down sections of a workout?
Warming up is important as it prepares the body for the intensity of the workout. Blood flow to the working muscles increases, joints become fluid and heart rate increases. This switches on all the metabolic pathways, which assist in performing the exercise. Cooling down brings the heart rate back towards resting and as the muscles are stretced, they lengthen which prevents tightness the next day.
