Cooling Down in T-Shirts

Friday 16th of October 2009 09:57:35 PM

Cooling Down in T-Shirts

In the New York Times (Oct. 15, 2009, p. E1) recently there was an article titled “Exercise and the Cool-Down” by Gina Kolata. With the article is a picture of a runner in shorts and a t-shirt holding a water bottle and trying to cool down after exercising. It always seems t-shirts and sweatshirts are in pictures of people exercising and for good reason. It’s hard to beat them for affordable clothing that always does what it promises.

T-Shirts especially are roomy and let the skin’s sweat evaporate so the body stays cool. They are washable and can be thrown in the dryer. Even if you forget to take them out of the dryer, it’s simply a matter of running the load for 5 minutes with a wet washcloth and all the wrinkles disappear (if you remember to pull the t-shirts out of course).

Of course, the New York Times story wasn’t about t-shirts but about whether science has proven the body needs to cool down after exercise to prevent muscle soreness or even heart strain. The theory is muscles accumulate lactic acid during exercise and that’s what causes them to get sore. It seems that theory is wrong. Lactic acid does not build up in the muscles and is actually converted into glycogen after a person stops exercising. It is true though that a person with heart disease should include a cool down in their exercise routine because sudden cessation of physical activity can cause blood to pool in the leg muscles. This can strain a weak heart and cause dizziness. In fact, even athletes can get dizzy for the same reason when they exercise intensely and then stop suddenly.

The bottom line is that scientific research does not support the need for a post-exercise cool down. What is interesting is that the myth continues and just won’t go away. So next time you pull those sweatshirts and tees out of the dryer, just remember the myth is just that…a myth. But what is not a myth is the fact those comfortable clothes will help you cool down anyway.