There are two things we really want you to do every time you work out: warm up and cool down. You may be tempted to head straight to the weights as soon as you step foot in the gym, but we really don't recommend it.
We admire your eagerness to train, but you've got to warm up your muscles so you can perform at your best and prevent injury. After you've crushed your workout, you've also got to cool down. Yup, even if your muscles feel like Jell-O and you still haven't caught your breath. You may be tempted to sprint to the locker room and get in the shower before all the hot water is gone, but trust us, you need to cool down.
"A crucial part of any workout routine is implementing a cooldown or recovery phase," Franco Calabrese, DPT at React Physical Therapy in Chicago, told POPSUGAR. One way you can help your body recover is by foam rolling after a workout. If you've ever experienced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) - that extreme, stiff/weak muscle feeling that usually happens 24 to 72 hours after an intense workout - get ready to takes notes and roll away your soreness.
"Avoid passively rolling back and forth on the foam roller," Franco said. Instead, "Actively move your body segment back and forth while sustaining pressure to a specific part of the muscle," he explained. Doing this will target tight muscles and help relieve tension. Long story short: foam rolling will help you perform and feel your best. Check out the must-do foam-rolling moves ahead.
from POPSUGAR https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Foam-Rolling-Exercises-Weightlifters-46160138
via IFTTT
