Cool down, lactic acid, and all that.

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GregLee

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This debunks popular ideas about cool down at the end of exercise and soreness due to lactic acid build up. The idea of the cool-down seems to have originated with a popular theory — now known to be wrong — that muscles become sore after exercise because they accumulate lactic acid.
 
Lactate is just one factor that is affected by cool down, while it's correct that lactate doesn't cause soreness, you can't try to bust post exercise cool down with just that.


That article has a paragraph on cool down and performance over subsequent days, which is interesting. I didn't find much else on the topic, but I just woke up, so I don't have time to really dig into it, but it seems like a cool down helps you recover for your next training session or competition.
 
Karky said:
Lactate is just one factor that is affected by cool down, while it's correct that lactate doesn't cause soreness, you can't try to bust post exercise cool down with just that.


That article has a paragraph on cool down and performance over subsequent days, which is interesting. I didn't find much else on the topic, but I just woke up, so I don't have time to really dig into it, but it seems like a cool down helps you recover for your next training session or competition.
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Exactly! When I consistently do my series of static stretches after my workouts, my workouts progress much better and much quicker due to the increase in flexibilty that is obtained.

I don't know about the whole lactic acid and muscle soreness argument, but I personally notice a difference in overall muscle tightness when I have consistently stretched compared to the times where I have not.

Plus, doesn't this all depend on the type of exercise you're doing? I mean the article just puts it in the context of intense cardio or playing an intense sport. What about fat burning exercises that are more moderate paced, the various types of weight training exercises, or like CrossFit or Boxing training???

Also, in all my experiences, the people that didn't stretch seem to always be getting injured more.

Jason Salamone
 
I don't know about stretching.. when I think cool down I think more along the lines of active recovery.. just jogging slowly for 5-10 minutes after your training. I'm not a fan of the idea of stretching every muscle group. I stick to the muscles I know needs work, I don't want to be more flexible than I need to be.
 
I believe in that theory. That is why after you do a beep test or something, they get you walk around so the lactic acid moves around and you won't be as sore the next day. You also need to drinks lots of water
 
Karky said:
I don't know about stretching.. when I think cool down I think more along the lines of active recovery.. just jogging slowly for 5-10 minutes after your training. I'm not a fan of the idea of stretching every muscle group. I stick to the muscles I know needs work, I don't want to be more flexible than I need to be.
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agree,if we were meant to bend over and touch the floor,why were we given knees :p

seriously though,i had more trouble with my back etc when i used to static stretch,now i do a warm up and some dynamic stretches and warm down after..
 
buzz said:
agree,if we were meant to bend over and touch the floor,why were we given knees :p

seriously though,i had more trouble with my back etc when i used to static stretch,now i do a warm up and some dynamic stretches and warm down after..
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Some of us are just naturally flexible, so knees or not, I like being able to fold my body in half, and touch the floor :D

I find stretching relaxing, and enjoy yoga.

I don't necessarily think of it as a "cool down" but it has it's purposes.....lol

Dynamic stretches however, are a great cool down, warm up...Kudos!
 
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