Have you ever wondered why you should do warm up exercises? You need to get the muscles and joints started before moving on to the main exercise. Doing warm up exercises helps to prevent injuries. There are two main types of warm up exercise: the static stretches and the dynamic stretches. Each type of warm up exercise has its pros and cons, but both can help to maximize your workout performance.

It is called a warm up because that is basically what you are doing. You are raising your body’s temperature, which in turn will widen the blood vessels and get your muscle more flexible. The increase in blood flow helps to transport more oxygen to your muscles and gets rid of a substantial amount of unwanted toxins.

Most warm things become softer; this is the same for your muscles after a warm up. They are more supple and can move more freely. Muscles that are left inactive for a long time become cold and stiff, and going from this still, cold state to an active one can lead to muscle tears or other more serious injuries.

Your warm ups will not only prepare your muscles for your workout; it also gets your whole body going. It does this by raising your blood flow, increasing your heat rate, and lubricating your joints. By doing good warm up exercise, you will get you cardiovascular system working strongly and strengthen your muscle for whatever exercise you plan to do. If you plan on running in a race or just around the block, these initial exercises will definitely work to improve your performance.

Depending on what activity, sport, or exercise you want to take part in, you can choose specific warm up exercises to focus on those areas. For example, if you plan on running a long distance run, do a few rounds of a race track at light jogging speed. If you plan on playing basketball, you will benefit from doing a few basic static arm and leg stretches.

As with regular exercise, start off your warm up exercises slowly, and gradually build up its intensity. This helps to prepare your body and condition your mind for the main activity. Remember also not to go too far with your exercises. It is just a gentle warm up to get your started, and it can last for as little as 10 minutes. By the time you’ve finished your warm up exercises, you should be feeling fresh and ready for your main workout.