5 Exercise Myths You Might Have Believed

Does cooldown really reduce muscle soreness after workout? Is body weight more important than resistance training? Are burpees the ultimate single exercise? Are planks better than crunches when trying to slim your waist?

Exercise scientist Sandra Hunter, physiologist Fabio Comana, and researcher Harry Dorell give a scientific and logical answer to these questions. Spoiler alert: the answers to the questions above are all no. The scientific reasons behind these answers could be found over at Discover Magazine.

For now, let’s look into the myth that cooldown reduces post-workout soreness.

“The research doesn’t support that a cooldown will reduce muscle soreness, because the muscle damage has already been done (during the workout),” says Comana.

Cooling down could have other benefits, though. For example, Comana says people with conditions such as high blood pressure may need to gradually taper their level of activity to avoid feeling light-headed. For others, cooldowns may be the perfect time to work on skills like flexibility.

But Comana admits he has been guilty of skipping them if he’s running short on time. “It’s not universal,” he adds. “It’s case-specific for every individual, though there are no downsides to doing a cooldown."

Check out the other debunked myths over at the site.

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