Is a Cool Down Good for Anything?

Gina Kolata, the New York Times fitness-minded fitness writer, asks a good question about the commonly practiced "cool down" after a workout. Is it good for anything, or is it a waste of time? Kolata puts the question to University of Texas exercise physiologist Hirofumi Tanaka, who points out that there is no scientific evidence to recommend the widely recommended routine.
Kolata does find evidence, however, that a cool down could reduce the likelihood of one unfortunate event, one that, paradoxically, is most likely to effect the best athletes. When you exercise
hard, she writes, the blood vessels in your legs expand to send more blood to
your legs and feet. And your heart is pumping fast. If you suddenly
stop, your heart slows down, your blood is pooled in your legs and
feet, and you can feel dizzy, even pass out.

Read more in the New York Times.