Sport is an important activity for physical health. This physical activity is quite heavy and tiring because it makes the muscles, bones, joints and heart have to maximize its performance. Therefore, it is necessary to warm up before exercising. Warming up or warming up is a way to prepare mentally and physically before exercising.
The importance of warming up before exercising
Before warming up, the condition of the muscles is very stiff. Muscle is inflexible and not ready to do sports movements so that exercise without heating can cause injury. Warming up can increase muscle temperature so that it can be more flexible in contracting and relaxing. Muscle strength and speed also increases. Thus, we can avoid the risk of injury when doing sports.
Warming can also accelerate blood circulation so that the flow of oxygen throughout the body becomes smoother and better. With better oxygen flow, physical performance in sports will also increase. Warming up also has psychological benefits, which is to improve mental and focus during exercise. Warming makes the physical and mind become more relaxed and calm so that the tension will be reduced.
Warming can reduce lactic acid in the body. Lactic acid is a substance that is produced if we do physical activity. When you exercise, lactic acid will increase. Excessive lactic acid will be deposited in the blood and muscles. If too much lactic acid in the body can interfere with health. Flexible muscle conditions, smooth blood circulation, increased mental and focus, and reduced lactic acid in the body will make performance in exercise increase. Increased body performance will make us better in sports.
How to warm up
Warming up does not need to be done for a long time, just about 5 to 15 minutes or until the body feels hot and sweaty. Examples of activities for warming up are light jogging, light aerobics, jogging in place, or light exercise.
To complete the heating activity, we can continue with stretching or commonly called stretching. The goal is that the muscles are more flexible when exercising. This will make the body can do more movement and of course prevent us from the risk of getting muscle cramps.