Earlier this week, the team at GoXercise posted a blog explaining the science behind stretching. In it, we discussed soft tissues, like muscles and tendons, and their thermo-elastic characteristics, which essentially means that they are more extensible when they’re warm. We also stressed the importance of not just stretching but actually warming up. By doing a few jumping jacks or toy-soldier-like high leg kicks before stretching, a workout will produce better results and less chance for injury.
In the above video, produced by the editors at About.com, Leslie Nesbitt demonstrates a few simple warm-up exercises that can be easily deployed before working out. Leslie starts out by marching in place and picks up the pace with a light skipping motion. In the approximately two-minute video, she explains that most warm-up sessions should last at least six minutes, but that an eight- to 10-minute session is ideal.
“You can greatly reduce your risk of exercise injury by warming up before you begin,” About.com says. And by following their quick warm-up video and by extending it a few minutes, exercise enthusiasts can be confident that they’ll be ready to go for almost any workout.
To follow up a warm-up with a strength-building workout, check out the GoXercise website. There, you’ll get a comprehensive overview on the Trans4mer four-in-one at-home exercise equipment.