Why Warm Up Before Exercise
Preparing yourself for exercise or sport is like studying before an exam; practising will ensure your body is ready for the physical and mental demands of the upcoming event.
An adequate warm-up before exercise has both physical and mental benefits. Warming up can improve your performance during exercise by: (1) ensuring you’re in the right head-space, (2) increasing oxygen uptake, (3) increasing blood flow and (4) improving muscle flexibility. This means your body will be ready for maximal exertion and reduces the risk of injury.
A warm-up requires minimal equipment and may incorporate aerobic exercises, stretching, targeted strengthening, balance exercises and sport-specific agility. It’s recommended that a warm-up begins slowly and gradually increases in intensity over 20 to 30 minutes. For more information, ACC SportSmart have developed an injury prevention frame work, including resources for warm ups before sport.