Staszak Physical Therapy
  • Home
  • Physical Therapy
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
    • Post Cancer Treatment
    • Pediatric Treatment
    • Vestibular Dysfunction Treatment
    • Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Treatment
    • Post-Surgical Treatment
    • Chronic Pain Treatment
  • Massage Therapy
  • Wellness Services
    • Personal Training
    • Small Group Classes
  • Staff
  • Contact

3 Reasons to Warm-up before Exercise

2/5/2019

0 Comments

 
stretching before workout Staszak Physical Therapy
by Jennifer Dunn, DPT

You know the drill; when you're running short on time for your workout the first thing to get cut is either the warm-up or the cool-down. But be careful. Below are 3 reasons why a proper warm-up is important and how it decreases your risk for injury. If you already have an injury, the warm-up is even more important and might be a key piece of getting you back to your normal routine (like walking a few blocks and sitting at your desk) with less pain.

1.  A warm-up increases blood flow to and mobility of working muscles 
Think of your muscles like spaghetti noodles. Straight out of the box they are rigid and break if you try to bend them. If they are boiled (warmed-up) you can bend them in to all different ways - you can tie 'em in a knot, you can tie 'em in a bow - without breaking them. Your muscles are similar in that they are much more mobile/extensible/flexible after a proper warm-up. All that means decreased risk of injury and less pain with movement! 

2.  A warm-up increases synovial fluid - your body's natural joint lubricant - to working joints
Our bodies are very self-sufficient machines. Our joints automatically lubricate themselves when they are used. A great way to keep your joints healthy is to prepare them for exercise through gentle movement that gets the lubrication flowing before diving into the hardest part of your workout. The adage of "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly applies to your body. Get your joints prepared for movement to prevent excessive wear and tear on them through a focused warm-up routine. 

3.  Perhaps most overlooked but very importantly, a warm-up primes your central nervous system - the brain to muscle connection - to get ready for movement
This is so important, especially if you are already nursing an injury. A warm-up using the same movement patterns you will use in your workout helps you do the movement correctly when you are under resistance or moving at high speed. If you are injured, the CNS may need to be primed to correctly function with ordinary activities such as walking or climbing stairs. In other words, an important function of the warm-up is to get the right muscles on at the right time. 

A warm-up is an essential part of an exercise routine. If you have questions about your warm-up routine or are hampered by an injury, contact the Staszak Physical Therapy team for an evaluation today. 541-505-8180
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Our Blog

    Read here for more information about our practice, industry news, tips for taking care of your body, and great recipes for healthy living.

    Categories

    All
    Acupuncture
    Back Health
    Billing
    Bladder Health
    Chronic Fatigue
    Chronic Pain
    Classes
    Corealign
    Cycling
    Depression
    Diet
    Ergonomics
    Fitness
    General News
    Headaches
    Hip Flexors
    Insurance
    Knees
    Mary Staszak
    Massage
    Michael Staszak
    Motor Vehicle Accidents
    Neck Pain
    Nutrition
    Our Team
    Pediatrics
    Pelvic Floor Disorders
    Personal Training
    Physical Therapy
    Pilates
    Posture
    Recipes
    Rehabilitation
    Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Running
    Sciatica
    Sleep
    Stress Reduction
    Stretches
    Swimming Pain
    Tennis
    Total Barre
    Unhealthy Snacks
    Urinary Health
    Vertigo
    Workplace
    Yoga

    RSS Feed

Returning you to living the life you love.
​

Copyright © 2013-2021 Staszak Physical Therapy & Wellness Center
488 E 11th Ave, Suite 150A   |   Eugene, OR 97401
Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 6:30 pm   |   Saturday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Phone: 541-505-8180   |   Fax: 541-505-7134
© Staszak Physical Therapy. All rights reserved.
  • Physical Therapy
  • Massage Therapy
  • ​Wellness Services​
  • Personal Training
  • Small Group Classes
  • Pilates & Yoga
  • CoreAlign


  • Our Staff
  • Your Visit
  • Insurances
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Physical Therapy
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
    • Post Cancer Treatment
    • Pediatric Treatment
    • Vestibular Dysfunction Treatment
    • Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Treatment
    • Post-Surgical Treatment
    • Chronic Pain Treatment
  • Massage Therapy
  • Wellness Services
    • Personal Training
    • Small Group Classes
  • Staff
  • Contact