Warming up – properly – is important for a weightlifting enthusiast. It pumps blood faster throughout the body, which prepares muscles for training. Waking up muscles help reduce risks of injury, which can set weightlifters back for weeks. Cooldowns on the other hand are preventative measures in weightlifting as it allows the body to recover from the stress of training. By gradually lowering the heart rate to its normal state through stretch exercises and post-workout massage, weightlifters reduce the chances of experiencing DOMS and help speed up recovery.
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What do weightlifters do to warm up and cool down?
If you are going to spend an hour deadlifting several hundred pounds and bench pressing half your weight, you need to be sure you prepare your body and help it recover afterward. And we’re letting you in on how weightlifting pros do it.
Weightlifting Warm-Up Routines
Weightlifters generally do two types of warm-ups: general and focused warm-ups. Allow us to explain.
A general warm-up is – exactly that – a set of general exercises that will wake you up, increase blood flow to your muscles and raise your body temperature.
The focused warm up on the other hand further preps your mind and body for activity. These are warm-up exercises that closely resemble the training you’re about to do.
General warm-up: Use a massage gun
While some weightlifters prefer to do five to ten-minute stretching exercises using foam rollers, many opt to use percussive therapy devices, a.k.a massage guns as part of their warm-up. The percussive force from these devices promotes blood flow, which is important in getting the muscles ready for a workout.
Also, the modular design of a massage gun helps provide a more concentrated form of therapy, compared to foam rolling. So, if there’s a particular muscle group that you feel needs a little more attention, using a massage gun is more effective. Self massages also don’t require a lot of space to do, unlike using a foam roller where you’d need to lay down on the floor to warm up your calves or lower back.
Duration
30 seconds on every muscle group
What to do
“Float” the massage gun on your target muscle groups to help prepare them for training. Start on the lower settings first and increase speed, depending on your fitness level.
General warm-up: Perform joint circles
Remember – a general warm-up doesn’t resemble the exercises you are going to do when you’re training. This type of warm-up is composed of – you guessed it – general exercises that help with mobility.
The following joint circles are the go-to of pro weightlifters:
- Elbow circles
- Wrist circles
- Neck circles
- Arm circles
- Hip circles
- Knee circles
- Good morning(s)
- Air squats
- Ankle circles
Duration
For every type of joint circle – ten in every direction.
For non-circular exercise/movement – ten reps for each exercise.
After completing the general warm-up movements, it’s time to do focused warm-up exercises. This further prepares the body and mind for training. Unlike general warm-ups, the exercises done here resemble the workouts you will do during training.
Think of it like shooting drills for basketball players. Same principle. A weightlifter’s specific warm-up usually involves basic barbell lifts and other dynamic movements like lifting an empty bar.
Focused warm-up: Barbells
- Front squat or Back squat
- Press
- Romanian Deadlifts (RDL) or Good morning(s)
Duration
Five to ten reps for every type of exercise.
What to do
You can also do squats, then presses, then on to the RDLs as one unbroken set. Do this as one long series for three sets, resting up to three minutes between sets.
Focused warm-up: Snatch
- Snatch grip (RDL)
- Muscle snatch
- Snatch grip (press)
- Overhead squats
- Power snatch
Duration
Do three to five reps for each movement.
What to do
You can do the series three times, just make sure that you take a three-minute rest between each set. You can do this warm up before starting on snatch – focused parts of your weight training.
Focused warm-up: Clean & Jerk
- Rack stretches
- Front squats
- RDLs
- Muscle clean then press
- Clean grip overhead squats
- Power clean and push press
- Power clean and jerk
- Clean & Jerk
Duration
Do three to five reps for each movement.
What to do
You can do the series three times depending on your fitness level and need. Take a three-minute rest between each set. You can do this warm-up before starting on clean & jerks – focused parts of your training.
Weightlifting Cool Down Routine
After your workout, your body needs help to get your heart rate back to normal, and this is what cooldowns do. Abruptly stopping any physical activity can cause blood to pool in your lower extremities, dropping your blood pressure, causing you to get dizzy.
Cooldown: Go on the treadmill
After weight training, get on a treadmill for some cool-down cardio.
Duration
3 to 5 minutes or longer if you completed an intense training session.
What to do
Do not go for a jog or run. Go for a slow stride or walk on the treadmill until you feel your heart rate going back to normal.
Cooldown: Hamstring towel stretches
Post-workout stretching relaxes muscle tension from your training. While there’s not much research yet as to how static stretches help prevent injuries, stretching has been proven to reduce post-workout soreness, particularly in the calves, quads, and hamstrings.
Duration
Hold for 60 seconds for each leg, two reps
What to do
Lie on your back, knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Avoid pressing your lower back or your neck on the floor. Take deep breaths and feel your body relax.
- Put a towel behind one calf or knee.
- Using the towel, pull up your leg towards your chest, making sure that you keep your leg slightly bent.
- Hold the position for 60 seconds, then slowly lower your leg
- Repeat twice
- Switch to the other leg
Weightlifting Cooldown: Rehydrate
After intense workouts, it is important to replenish your body’s water stores. But how much liquid do you actually do after weight training?
What to do
Try to weigh yourself before you start your training for the day. After your workout, weigh yourself again. Any weight you have lost is purely water weight. To rehydrate, you simply have to drink that weight difference in the water.
Conclusion
As a weightlifter, do you need to warm up before training? And do cool down cardio and stretches after lifting sessions? The answer is 100% YES.
What do you think of our warm-up and cool-down tips? Do you do your warm-up routines differently? What other ways do you cool down after an intense training session? Sound off in the comments and let’s chat. Haven’t got your own massage gun for warm-ups and cooldowns yet? Click here to get a Hydragun now.
