Expert QA

How important is it to warm up before working out?

By Nicole Gregory for Live Right Live Well

Very. Warming up before exercise prepares your muscles for the workout ahead, which reduces your risk of injury and should therefore be a critical part of any exercise routine, according to April Harris Swales, senior personal trainer at the Cooper Fitness Center, which is part of the nationally recognized Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas.

Take jogging, for example: “If you were to go straight into jogging, you’re not necessarily going to be injured,” explains Swales. “But if you have to jump over a pothole and your calf or Achilles muscles are not pliable and warm, that sudden movement could cause injury to those muscles.”

The best way to warm up is by doing “dynamic movement,” says Swales, meaning moderately strenuous and continuous movements that engage the same muscles you’ll be using in your workout. So if you’re a jogger, your dynamic warmup might be five minutes of brisk walking or a series of step-and-knee-lift moves. “You want the muscles to be warm and pliable so they perform better,” says Swales. “You also want to get your heart rate going and blood to your tissues.”

What about stretching? For years it was thought that the best way to prepare for a workout was to do static stretching -- holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds. But “static stretching creates slack in the muscles,” says Swales. This can leave them so loose and flexible that they're vulnerable to injury if put directly into active use. We therefore "recommend saving [stretching] for the end of a workout,” she says.

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	<h2>Expert QA</h2>
<h1>How important is it to warm up before working out?</h1>
<p>

<p>By Nicole Gregory for <em><a href="http://www.liverightlivewell.com">Live Right Live Well</a></em></p>
</p>

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	<p>Very. Warming up before exercise prepares your muscles for the
workout ahead, which reduces your risk of injury and should therefore
be a critical part of any exercise routine, according to April Harris
Swales, senior personal trainer at the Cooper Fitness Center, which is
part of the nationally recognized Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas. </p>
<p>Take jogging, for example: “If you were to go straight into jogging,
you’re not necessarily going to be injured,” explains Swales. “But if
you have to jump over a pothole and your calf or Achilles muscles are
not pliable and warm, that sudden movement could cause injury to those
muscles.”</p>
<p>The best way to warm up is by doing “dynamic movement,” says Swales,
meaning moderately strenuous and continuous movements that engage the
same muscles you’ll be using in your workout. So if you’re a jogger,
your dynamic warmup might be five minutes of brisk walking or a series
of step-and-knee-lift moves. “You want the muscles to be warm and
pliable so they perform better,” says Swales. “You also want to get
your heart rate going and blood to your tissues.”</p>
<p>What about stretching? For years it was thought that the best way to
prepare for a workout was to do static stretching -- holding a stretch
for 20 to 30 seconds. But “static stretching creates slack in the
muscles,” says Swales. This can leave them so loose and flexible that
they're vulnerable to injury if put directly into active use. We
therefore "recommend saving [stretching] for the end of a workout,” she
says.</p>
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