Fitness watch: Recovery, avoiding soreness, preventing injuries – why a good cool-down is essential

Whether you are an aspiring athlete, or already an elite one, or even a regular fitness enthusiast who is keen to do your weekly routines well, there is an important aspect of a workout routine that is sometimes neglected: cool-down.

Most are aware about the regular warm-ups and what it takes to get your body in readiness for the intensity of a workout. But one aspect that is often neglected is the cool-down. Maybe you are in a hurry to get back home after that session in a gym to beat the traffic, maybe you are really tired after a cricket or football match and don’t feel like exerting more. But sports science says without cooling down properly, you end up exposing yourself to a variety of avoidable issues.

In a conversation with Scroll.in, South Africa’s Leandi van Zyl, who is the head of Sport Science and Strength and Conditioning at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, spoke about the various aspects of a cool-down and why it is so essential for your workout routine.

Excerpts from the conversation:

Question: Strength and conditioning is a part of an almost athlete’s daily routine these days but there is also more and more awareness among regular…

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