Warm Up Exercise

Just as the name suggests, warm up exercise warm the body. They do so by increasing blood flow to the muscles, thus making them more relaxed, less susceptible to injury, and receptive to more vigorous exercise.

As well as conditioning muscles, a good warm up tends to increase motivation and gear the mind up for greater physical activity.

What if you are not up to a full workout routine today? That's fine....

Although routine aerobic exercise can be important we all know there are days when we just don't have much time for exercise. However, by taking 10 or 15 minutes to do some light warm up and stretching exercises you can still feel a few of the benefits of a more high impact routine. What a great way to quickly boost energy while getting what may be some much needed stress relief!

Please note... This website is written by a patient, NOT a practitioner. It is very important that you seek advice from a medical professional before engaging in any new exercise or treatment plans.

Warm Up and Stretching Exercises

I have been told that warm up exercise should be done to the extent that heart rate increases, but not to the target heart rate level. Starting off gradually...

...and warming up for close to ten minutes, or to the point of breaking a sweat, is often adequate. Of course, the duration and intensity of your own workout should be determined by your physical condition.

A good warm up is designed to loosen all of the muscle groups, not only those that will be used in your specific exercise routine. The same goes for the stretching exercises that should be done after a warm up. Stretch as many muscles as possible, so as to increase flexibility and range of motion.

What works well as a warm up?

Often it is recommended that you do a slower version of your planned exercise routine. For example, a runner may begin with a brisk walk, a few stretching exercises and a jog, while a jogger may start off with a slower walk, followed by a few stretches.

Whatever you have planned for your more strenuous routine, 10-15 minutes of walking or bicycling can be a good way to begin. Customize your warm up routine with what works best for you and you'll find it more enjoyable and invigorating.

An exercise warm up and stretching routine can also be used as cool down exercise after your workout.