What is the purpose of a cool-down after exercise?

The primary purpose of a cool-down after exercise is to gradually lower heart rate and facilitate recovery. During physical activity, especially intense workouts, the heart rate increases significantly to supply more oxygen to the working muscles. A cool-down allows the body to transition back to a resting state more smoothly. This gradual decrease helps to prevent dizziness or fainting that could occur if someone stops exercising abruptly, as it allows for the body’s physiological responses to normalize.

Furthermore, cooling down helps to maintain blood flow to the muscles, which can reduce muscle stiffness and soreness post-exercise by aiding in the removal of metabolic waste produced during the workout. This process helps promote recovery and prepares the body for its next activity, whether that's future training sessions or daily activities.

In contrast, while relaxing muscles and improving flexibility are benefits that can result from certain components during a cool-down, they are not the primary focus. Increasing muscle fatigue would be counterproductive to recovery and not a goal of a cool-down. Preparing for the next training session is an indirect benefit but not the immediate purpose of the cool-down phase itself.