Why You Should Cool Down

Is the Cool-Down Necessary?

Women's Health magazine—New York, NY—October 15, 2009

Do you jog for 5 minutes after a cardio workout because the exercise machine forces you to, but never stop to ask yourself why you're going through the motions?

What about the idea it can relieve muscle soreness?

It might relieve cramping, says Jordan D. Metzl, M.D., sports medicine physician, Hospital for Special Surgery, but it's a myth that cooling-down can ease muscle soreness.

"When you're sore, it's really because you've made tiny tears in your muscles," says Metzl. "Cooling-down won't help that, and it won't really help from an injury perspective."

This story originally appeared at womenshealthmag.com.