Cooling Down
Physical Education: AQA GCSE, topic 4.2.4
Cool Down
A cool down should be done after exercise. A cool down should:
Prevent DOMS
- Prevent DOMS (Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness).
Recovery
- Support and start the recovery process.
Remove lactic acid
- Help the body remove lactic acid, carbon dioxide and other waste products to prevent stiffness. They replace these with oxygenated blood.
Appropriate Cool Down
An appropriate cool down will involve:
Aerobic activity
- An aerobic activity to keep the heart rate (beats per minute) and breathing rate up.
- This helps to keep up levels of oxygenated blood flowing through the muscles.
Lower intensity
- Reducing the intensity. This will gradually bring the performer to a stop (e.g. a light jog).
Stretching
- Stretching of the muscles used to help relax them.
Test yourself on Cooling Down
How do cool downs remove lactic acid from muscles?
How does stretching in a cool down affect muscles?
Which activity is NOT an appropriate cool down activity?