Communicate the value of warm-up, cool-down and stretching by Christine Schnitzer and Patty Trela, PT, DPT

•Warm-up, cool-down and safe stretching should be part of every group class. But as fitness instructors, how can we communicate the importance of proper pre-activity warm-up and post-activity cool-down/stretching to our clients who use fitness centers independently?

As exercise leaders, we encourage people to take ownership of their health by becoming and staying physically active for life. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that for people over the age of 65 to realize the health benefits that exercise brings, they should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week and do muscle-strengthening activities two or more days per week (1). This guideline serves to motivate people to add use of a treadmill, seated recumbent cross-trainer, stationary bicycle and similar equipment to their fitness program when it is convenient for them to do so.