Warm Down

A warm-down or cool-down consists of light exercise following strenuous exercise to aid in the body’s recuperation.
In swimming, this typically involves swimming easy laps to eliminate lactic acid and gradually bring down the heart rate. Warm downs prevent muscle soreness and aid in flexibility. It is tempting to omit them, particularly following competition, but warm downs are essential to maintain performance in the long term and prevent injury. Athletes may also perform stretching or mobility exercises at this point to aid in recovery.