Is the Exercise Cool-Down Really Necessary?
Full article here:
www.nytimes.com/.../15best.html
Excerpt:
The idea of the cool-down seems to have originated with a popular theory — now known to be wrong — that muscles become sore after exercise because they accumulate lactic acid. In fact, lactic acid is a fuel. It’s good to generate lactic acid, it’s a normal part of exercise, and it has nothing to do with muscle soreness. But the lactic acid theory led to the notion that by slowly reducing the intensity of your workout you can give lactic acid a chance to dissipate...
Odd warmdown story: one day I was swimming in the lane next to a novice swimmer who had a coach there on the pool deck. After I finished my main set I started a 300 warmdown. When I flipped at the 50 mark, I could hear the coach yell GO. He had his swimmer do a 25 sprint, trying to race me. Even though I was warming down, it wasn't close since the guy was a novice. So then 50 yards later the cycle repeated. By the time I finished my 300, he had done 4 all-out 25's, racing me each time, and each with the same result. I hopped out and was breathing through my nose as the novice was gasping for air and looking demoralized. I felt bad for him. I'm not sure why his coach thought that was a good idea.
Odd warmdown story: one day I was swimming in the lane next to a novice swimmer who had a coach there on the pool deck. After I finished my main set I started a 300 warmdown. When I flipped at the 50 mark, I could hear the coach yell GO. He had his swimmer do a 25 sprint, trying to race me. Even though I was warming down, it wasn't close since the guy was a novice. So then 50 yards later the cycle repeated. By the time I finished my 300, he had done 4 all-out 25's, racing me each time, and each with the same result. I hopped out and was breathing through my nose as the novice was gasping for air and looking demoralized. I felt bad for him. I'm not sure why his coach thought that was a good idea.
