Psychological and physiology benefits of warming up and cooling down

Benefits of a warm up

An appropiate warm up will result in an increased performance level
Also results in an increased speed of contraction and relaxation of warmed muscles
Dynamic exercises reduce muscle stiffness
A specific warm up can facilitate motor unit recruitment required in subsequent all out activity
Increased blood flow through active tissues, increasing muscle temperatures - this allows likelihood of overstretching to reduce
Allows the heart rate get to a workable rate for beginning exercise
Mentally focused on the training or competition

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An appropiate cool down aids in the dissipation of waste products - including lactic acid
It reduces the potential for DOMS
Reduces the chances of dizziness or fainting
Reduces the level of adrenaline in the blood
Allows the heart rate to return to its resting rate
This does not give their body the proper time to recover or time to restretch those muscles.

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