How important is it to stretch after sport? Almost all the fittest people I know never do cool downs after training and such.
In: Biology
If they are super into this, or professional, they may have other ways to do cool downs that work for them. I run a lot, as does my wife. After a good run, or jog, we slow down, then walk. Maybe sit for a bit. That’s our cool down.
I would assume ppl newer should really follow all the recommended guidelines, but as you start to do it regularly, you can begin to figure out what works for you. I mean, if you’re basing this on someone who’s been doing this for years, then I would assume they have their own routine and it works. They probably don’t deviate much. While a person who’s only been doing it a few months should follow all the guidelines because they don’t want to suddenly shock the system, wind up in pain or whatever, by cheating the steps.
Edit: Can also depend on what the activity demands too.
I was taught in both competitive gymnastics and personal training to do cool downs after stuff. Why? It transitions your heart back to an appropriate pace. It stops you from fainting. It improves flexibility in a way that preworkout stretching doesn’t. And it just feels nice
Hunter gatherers even do cool downs by having rest days. Do they stretch? Well, they retain most of their flexibility well into adulthood because their activities require flexibility. For example, they squat instead of sit in chairs, they climb instead of use elevators, etc. You should stretch.
You can get away with just about anything when you are young. That doesn’t make it right.
Cool downs are important after very strenuous training, but not necessary every time you train. It never hurts though. There may be other reasons, but the primary function is to maintain increased blood flow and movement to give lactic acid time to flush out of your muscles.
Stretching is very important because flexibility is arguably the most important factor in injury prevention. It is generally accepted that you shouldn’t do intensive static stretching before activity, but you don’t need to do it immediately after either. That’s just a convenient time because you are already warmed up.
Stretching is not a cooldown. A cooldown is when you slowly lower your activity level, rather than just stopping. Like slowing a car down gradually rather than slamming on the brakes.
As for stretching, it actually doesn’t do anything, and doesn’t prevent injury. It may actually increase the chance of injury if you do it right before athletic activity, because it’s causing micro tears in the muscle.
How old are you/they?
The older I’ve gotten, the more important stretching has become, and the more I’ve needed warm-ups/cool-downs. It’s also more important when you spend more of the day being sedentary.
Tends be people forget to when younger / so healthy they get away with it. Half of us in the circus world have this catchup to is in our 30s. Ive also noticed it with some of the best younger freerunners.
Stretching should be done after your muscles have warmed up. Many athletes do a warm up, then stretch, then move to their main/more vigorous activity. Stretching afterwards would be a more focused stretching session for warm muscles and tendons to improve flexibility, because a longer stretching session would cool you down too much to move into a vigorous activity, so should be done after a workout if improving your flexibility is the goal.
Cool downs in general are simply not stop moving right after a sport so that your muscles don’t cramp. It can be slowing your pace, walking, or taking a shower. The important thing is to not sit and stay still directly after.
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