Warm-up

Warming up is a part of exercise and should be included in your exercise program. Many people do not like to warm-up before a WOD because they say they don't want to waste their energy before a workout. Yes, some warmups may tire you a little, but just during the warmup. It should not fatigue you and negatively effect your workout. Warming up and cooling down, which both include stretching, will help prevent injuries.

The objective of the warm-up is to raise total body temperature and muscle temperature to prepare the entire body for vigorous activity. The warm-up period prepares the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system and the musculoskeletal system by gradually increasing the demand on those systems so that they are able to accommodate the demands of more strenuous activity. Professional, college, and even recreational athletes all go through a warmup before a game or practice. They do this to enhance their performance. They will never opt out because of fear tiring themselves out before the game. CrossFit is a sport, therefore as CrossFitters, we are all athletes and we should prepare our bodies for our workout everyday.

Experts agree that the main purpose of warm-up is to increase the blood circulation in order to raise both the general body and the deep muscle temperatures, which in turn help to heat up the muscles, ligaments and tendons in preparation for more vigorous activity.

A proper warm-up provides many benefits due to elevated temperatures associated with it. The likelihood of injury is reduced. Athletic performance can be improved. The warm-up increases muscle efficiency, reduces potential for muscle pulls, improves reaction time and improves the speed of movement of muscled and ligaments.

Proper warm-up can also help reduce the severity of post-exercise muscle soreness. The higher temperatures and increased blood flow resulting from warm-up are important for delivery of oxygen to the muscles and for prevention of build-up of unwanted waste products which can lead to muscle soreness.

Here is an small article posted by Greg Glassman on warm-ups:

http://journal.crossfit.com/2003/04/a-better-warmup-by-greg-glassm.tpl

CrossFit Journal Video:

http://library.crossfit.com/premium/video/CFJ_Michelmore_WarmUp.mov?e=1285543707&h=fc442d623c0314269d5773c4767dac14

Next time a coach puts you through a warmup that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat, remember how this is just going to help you perform better for the workout of the day :)

-Courtesy of CrossFit Oahu