Why Warm-up?

A basic warm-up is an essential component to an exercise program and to each workout you perform. Here are some of the main reasons a warm-up will benefit your body and enhance your workout:


- Warm-ups provide essential neurological and physiological preparation needed for vigorous exercise


- A proper warm-up increases blood flow to working tissues, velocity of nerve impulses to muscles and delivery of oxygen and foodstuffs for energy liberation


- Enhances removal of waste products from muscles


- Enhances muscles' metabolic properties


- Includes pre-exercise injury prevention component that increases elasticity of muscle & tendon

(Source: IDEA Fitness Journal, Stretching Research Retrospective, Nov Dec 2009)

A good, effective warm-up should be performed at a moderate intensity and induce some mild sweating but without fatigue. You can opt for a machine-based cardiovascular warm-up, calisthenics such as jumping jacks, etc., or very light resistance strength-based movements to prime the neuromuscular system for the resistance exercises you will be performing as part of your workout.


Make a warm-up part of the first thing you do when you get ready for your workouts and you'll realize a number of benefits to your body and to the workout itself. For more ideas on warm-up options, feel free to contact me at info@synergyhf.com, subject "Why Warm-up?"