My coach today told me that cooling down at the end of practice was not good for the body. He said it could rip muscles that were just worked. I have always been taught that the cool down was important, especially after working hard and getting the heart rate up.
Keep in mind that this is an USA-S practice and those I'm swimming with are teenagers.
I'm curious what others think?
I agree with what others have said here:
It's hard to see how slow swimming could tear your muscles after fast swimming.
I feel better after I cool down. Sometimes I feel a bit dizzy after a hard workout, and definitely not ready to get out of the pool.
It doesn't need to be long -- 100-200 yds seems to do it.
I'd add that if I've worked out really hard and I don't cool down, my face will be red, hot, and sweaty for the next several hours. Yuck.
I agree with what others have said here:
It's hard to see how slow swimming could tear your muscles after fast swimming.
I feel better after I cool down. Sometimes I feel a bit dizzy after a hard workout, and definitely not ready to get out of the pool.
It doesn't need to be long -- 100-200 yds seems to do it.
I'd add that if I've worked out really hard and I don't cool down, my face will be red, hot, and sweaty for the next several hours. Yuck.
