If you think that warming up or cooling down is more important for runners than it is for weight lifters, think again; both forms of movement require appropriate mobility work. Warm-ups prep you for the strength session ahead, giving you “a chance to activate and prime the muscle groups that you’ll be using”, says personal trainer and founder of TSC Method, Tashi Skervin-Clarke. If you’re set on deadlifting as your first lifts, a warm-up might include a set of Good Mornings to get those hip hinges nice and mobile. 

Few things, however, are more tempting in life than skipping the cool down after a workout. Whether you’re in a gym class or sweating in your living room, all you want to do after a session is to get changed and move on. And the same is true of warm-ups – particularly if you’re about to do some cardio. 

Most of us are guilty of having gone out for a run without doing any stretching first. But does it really matter if we skip the warm-up or cool down? And if so, is one more important to do than the other if we want to stay injury-free? The short answer is: whatever you do, do not skip the warm-up. Here’s why: