warm-up

A warm-up is a preparatory activity or exercise done before a main activity, such as a game or performance. In physiology, it involves gradually increasing exercise intensity to allow body systems to adjust to higher metabolic demands. This process leads to an increased heart rate and blood flow, as well as a rise in muscle temperature. Warming up makes starting an exercise session more comfortable and safer. Athletes and musicians often report needing a warm-up period for efficient performance after a break. The opposite, a cool-down, is also important for gradually reducing exercise intensity at the end of a session to prevent issues like blood pooling.123