Why it is important to keep muscles warm
It is also important prior to warm ups and stretches to keep muscles warm, such as using our Warm Buddy Sports Therapy wrap that has a warm moist heat that really penetrates the muscles making them supple and less liable to being injured due to stresses while cold.| Sports Therapy Wrap |
A warm up is the act of preparing for an athletic event or workout by exercising or practicing for a short time beforehand. Warming up helps reduce your risk of injury and the aches and pains that come with exercise. The physiological reason to warm up is to assist your circulatory system in pumping oxygen-rich blood to your working muscles. The idea is to increase circulation throughout the body in a gradual manner. A proper warm up safely prepares the body for the increased demands of exercise. Cold muscles do not absorb shock or impact as well, and are more susceptible to injury.
A warm-up helps you prepare both mentally and physically for exercise and reduces the chance of injury. During a warm up, any injury or illness you have can often be recognized, and further injury prevented. Other benefits of a proper warm up include:
- Increased movement of blood through your tissues, making the muscles more pliable.
- Increased delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. This prevents you from getting out of breath early or too easily.
- Prepares your muscles for stretching
- Prepares your heart for an increase in activity, preventing a rapid increase in blood pressure
- Prepares you mentally for the upcoming exercise
- Primes your nerve-to-muscle pathways to be ready for exercise
- Improved coordination and reaction times
Hot or Cold Therapy
Warm Buddy heat wraps can be warmed in the microwave or cooled in the freezer. Products such as the Ultra Sports Therapy Wrap, Ultra Body Wrap, Ultra Warming Blanket and Aromatic Spa Wrap release a long lasting, penetrating moist heat that will last for up to 45 minutes. When placed in the freezer for a couple of hours(use a freezer bag so the pack does not attract other aromas from the freezer) Warm Buddy packs retain a comfortable level of cool that can be used to relieve muscle strain,stress and swelling. The following medical information demonstrates the effectiveness of heat and cold treatments.
When treating an injury such as a
pulled muscle or sprained ankle, hot or cold therapy is often utilized.
When using this type of therapy on an injury, many people are often
unsure on which type of therapy they should use. The following outlines
when to use either hot or cold therapy.
Hot Therapy
One should apply heat on an injured area when there is no inflammation. Heat therapy is typically used for such conditions as sore and stiff muscles as well as joint pain. The heat relaxes muscles and improves blood circulation. Experts believe the heat releases endorphins which inhibits pain signals to the brain. The effect of the heat causes the blood vessels to expand allowing the blood which carries oxygen and nutrients to circulate and reach the injured area. The boost in circulation allows excess fluid and waste to be carried away from the area allowing for healing to take place.
Heat therapy is often used before exercise or participating in sports so the muscles will be relaxed and more flexible. Heat is usually applied for about 20 minutes. A hot wet towel, hot pack, and heating pad are normally used in heat therapy. Heat therapy is popular for use on back injuries. It should not be used on sprained ankles and inflamed joints and muscles. The suitable temperature for heat therapy is about 104 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cold Therapy
Cold therapy is used for reducing pain, inflammation, and slowing metabolic action. The cold dulls nerve activity thereby inhibiting pain. For inflammation, cold constricts blood vessels which stop fluid from traveling to the injury where swelling occurs and permits fluid drainage. This allows for a reduction in swelling. Cold reduces muscle spasms and tightens muscles so they cannot stretch and extend which allows for healing.
Cold therapy is beneficial for immediate injuries as it reduces both pain and swelling. It is beneficial for treating lower back pain. Ice wrapped in a towel and cold packs are often used for about 10 minutes at a time. Some people will use a bag of ice or frozen vegetables such as peas. Cold therapy is also beneficial for chronic pain injuries. It should not be used before exercise because it tightens muscles making them less flexible.
When one sustains an injury due to such activities as heavy lifting, exercise, sports, or another activity that involves an intensive use of the muscles and ligaments, hot and cold therapy is an effective treatment for the injury. These injuries are quite common. The type of treatment you use will depend on the type of injury you receive. It is important to remember that an injury can be serious so it is vital that you see a doctor if the injury gets worse.
When one sustains an injury due to such activities as heavy lifting, exercise, sports, or another activity that involves an intensive use of the muscles and ligaments, hot and cold therapy is an effective treatment for the injury. These injuries are quite common. The type of treatment you use will depend on the type of injury you receive. It is important to remember that an injury can be serious so it is vital that you see a doctor if the injury gets worse.
A low impact exercise, such as biking or walking or using an elliptical or rowing machine is the best way to warm up.
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