Does cooling down after working out matter?

Probably not!

Most of us were taught in elementary school gym classes that the body requires a formal period of cooling down after a workout or competition. Instructors told us that by slowing to a jog or otherwise lessening the intensity of the workout, followed by stretching or otherwise transitioning out of physical activity, we would prevent muscle soreness, improve limberness and speed physiological recovery. All of this would allow us to perform better physically the next day than if we hadn’t cooled down.

But under scientific scrutiny, none of those beliefs stand up well.

Turns out, warming up is much more beneficial!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I always warm up, never warm down.