Is warming up and cooling down worthwhile?
Ok, I’ll admit it. Before working out, I almost never warm-up. Mostly because it’s never seemed to matter. It just takes extra time and if there’s no benefit, why do it?
Well, I came across this research study looking at whether warming up can reduce injuries in soccer players. In their work scientists showed that there was a 28% reduction in groin
injuries in players that did warm-up exercises versus those who didn’t.
Apparently, groin injuries are a big deal among elite soccer players. And if warming up can reduce these types of injuries, it can probably reduce the chances of other types of injuries.
Unfortunately, they didn’t do the study on runners, jugglers or jogglers so we can’t directly say how it relates.
However, this article in the American Journal of sports medicine indicates that being taught standardized warm-up, cool-down and stretching exercises does not help reduce injuries. Of course, just because they were taught the warmup/cooldown routine doesn’t mean they actually followed it.
Logically, it makes sense that there is some benefit to warming up, cooling down and stretching, but I just don’t see it. Perhaps I’m lucky because I rarely get injured. Or maybe if I did warm up more my muscles wouldn’t hurt so much in the mornings. I don’t know. It still feels like extra time that I just don’t need to spend.
Does anyone else have solid evidence that jogglers can benefit from warming up, cooling down and stretching?
This Post Has 5 Comments
I dunno, but that is probably why triathletes are supposed to bring their heart rate up into the proper zone during the warmup, then do a cool down, just like you said. It helps avoid injuries. Personally, I get my HR in the zone “right away” 🙂
Hmmm…as a soccer player, or at least a former one, I can’t say that I had any groin injuries and I am also not a fan of warming up. When I was younger, we had to of course because our coaches made us but when I was playing in my 20s – I rarely warmed up and never pulled anything. Of course I got some fat lips, bruises and black eyes ,but I don’t think that has anything to do with not warming up.:)
I think that warming up is important for high intensity workouts or races. For marathon running, there probably isn’t really much need for it, cause you have 3 plus hours to go. For 5k’s, it’s much more important.
Wait till you get a little older… Walking is a warm-up!
LOL
Older! I was born in the 60’s for chirssake! Ok, ’69 but I certainly don’t feel like a kid anymore.
The pain I feel this morning makes me think I just my try warming up a bit more.