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...
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Former Member
if you aren't sure why you are doing something, why are you doing it? That's a very good question.
First, there's nothing wrong with cooling down swimming. Besides, you're right in thinking that it can often be seen one last occasion in a workout to book quality volume, as long as you make the effort of maintaining a good technique.
Sometimes, hard sets leave you with an altered technique. Blood rush may alter flexibility and ability to swim smooth. Fatigued muscles etc, all bad for technique. Using the cooling down set to reshape the technique is smart, especially if you're working on improving some core aspects of your stroke.
But the best answer to your question I guess is mostly about enjoying a smooth and relaxed swim, just for the sake of swimming, for sensations etc...
Me, like I said earlier, after a tough workout, I like to swim down a little bit then change the environment. I wouldn't want to stick there for half a kilo or something. But that's me.
if you aren't sure why you are doing something, why are you doing it? That's a very good question.
First, there's nothing wrong with cooling down swimming. Besides, you're right in thinking that it can often be seen one last occasion in a workout to book quality volume, as long as you make the effort of maintaining a good technique.
Sometimes, hard sets leave you with an altered technique. Blood rush may alter flexibility and ability to swim smooth. Fatigued muscles etc, all bad for technique. Using the cooling down set to reshape the technique is smart, especially if you're working on improving some core aspects of your stroke.
But the best answer to your question I guess is mostly about enjoying a smooth and relaxed swim, just for the sake of swimming, for sensations etc...
Me, like I said earlier, after a tough workout, I like to swim down a little bit then change the environment. I wouldn't want to stick there for half a kilo or something. But that's me.
