A period of light activity following intense exercise to gradually return heart rate and breathing to normal levels. It typically includes gentle movement and stretching to aid recovery.
Compound of 'cool' (to become less hot) + 'down' (reduction in intensity). The concept emerged in sports medicine in the mid-20th century as understanding of exercise physiology improved.
Skipping cooldowns can cause blood to pool in your legs, potentially leading to dizziness or fainting - your heart needs help pumping blood back from your extremities! Elite athletes often spend as much time cooling down as they do warming up.
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