What are two short term and 2 long term benefits of warming up prior to physical?

Answer 1

One of the common misconceptions in fitness exercises is that "stretching is warm-up." Stretching is a very important part of warm-up exercises, but it is "not warm-up." Warm-up is the process wherein you literally raise your body temperature (some say for about one to two degrees Celsius) to prepare your muscles from the normal to the exercise condition.

Warm-ups are done at the beginning of a workout. Performing warm-up exercises before you stretch is essential in any activities especially in fitness workouts and trainings. Warming up, when done properly, can do more than just prepare and loosen your stiff muscles for heavier exercises. It can also improve your fitness performance. Your susceptibility to injury from engaging in athletic activities can greatly increase without a warm-up or even a warm-up done improperly.

Some of the common warm-ups are light static (passive) stretches, calisthenics, and skipping rope. Start your workout with several deep breaths by inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. You can perform a slower walk or a gentle jog for a few hundred yards if you plan to walk or run. For an Aerobics Exercise, you can do several minutes of light, dance-like movements to gradually condition your body.

Devote the last part of your warm-up routine to similar exercises that you will be performing during your major workout or activity - only, do it at a reduced or lower intensity. This will greatly minimize the risk of having a sport-specific injury.