| Brad Walker, an interntionally | | | | the warm up itself. |
| recognized stretching and sports injury | | | | Obviously, it's important to start with |
| consultant, reveals why warm up | | | | the easiest and most gentle activity |
| activities are a crucial part of any | | | | first, building upon each part with more |
| exercise program or sports training | | | | energetic activities, until the body is |
| program. Brad reveals why an effective | | | | at a physical and mental peak. This is |
| warm up program can keep your body in | | | | the state in which the body is most |
| top condition and help prevent serious | | | | prepared for the physical activity to |
| injury. | | | | come, and where the likelihood of sports |
| The warm up activities are a crucial | | | | injury has been minimized as much as |
| part of any exercise regime or sports | | | | possible. So, how should you structure |
| training. The importance of a structured | | | | your warm up to achieve these goals? |
| warm up routine should not be under | | | | There are four key elements, or parts, |
| estimated when it comes to the | | | | which should be included to ensure an |
| prevention of sports injury. A solid | | | | effective and complete warm up. They |
| warm up routine will go a long way in | | | | are: |
| keeping your body in top condition and | | | | - The general warm up; |
| will help you avoid serious injury | | | | - Static stretching; |
| further down the road. | | | | - The sports specific warm up; and |
| Warm up activities include a number of | | | | - Dynamic stretching. |
| very important key elements. These | | | | All four parts are equally important and |
| elements, or parts, should all be | | | | any one part should not be neglected or |
| working together to minimize the | | | | thought of as not necessary. All four |
| likelihood of sports injury from | | | | elements work together to bring the body |
| physical activity. | | | | and mind to a physical peak, ensuring |
| Warming up prior to any physical | | | | the athlete is prepared for the activity |
| activity does a number of beneficial | | | | to come. This process will help ensure |
| things, but primarily its main purpose | | | | the athlete has a minimal risk of sports |
| is to prepare the body and mind for more | | | | injury. |
| strenuous activity. One of the ways it | | | | Of course this is a very simplistic view |
| achieves this is by helping to increase | | | | of proper warm up activities. Each |
| the body's core temperature, while also | | | | element has specific requirements of its |
| increasing the body's muscle | | | | own. Only by combining these elements in |
| temperature. By increasing muscle | | | | the right way will you achieve the |
| temperature you're helping to make the | | | | maximum results for your efforts. In |
| muscles loose, supple and pliable. | | | | part two, we'll take a closer look at |
| Effective warm up activities also have | | | | the proper procedure for warming up and |
| the effect of increasing both your heart | | | | each of the individual steps in detail. |
| rate and your respiratory rate. This | | | | If you enjoyed this article, please feel |
| increases blood flow, which in turn | | | | free to forward it to others, make it |
| increases the delivery of oxygen and | | | | available from your site or post it on |
| nutrients to the working muscles. All | | | | blogs and forums for others to read. All |
| this helps to prepare the muscles, | | | | we ask is that this paragraph and URL |
| tendons and joints for more strenuous | | | | are included. For more information and |
| activity. | | | | articles on stretching, flexibility and |
| Keeping in mind the aims or goals of | | | | sports injury management, visit The |
| effective warm up activities, we can | | | | Stretching Institute. |
| then go on to look at the structure of | | | | |