How important are warm-ups/warm-downs?

In relation to both working out and running?

 

very important if you dont want to tear a muscle. Warming up is the most important part of a workout, you dont just want to start lifting heavy or start doing sprints from laying around. You wont perform as good as you will if you warm up. Cool downs only help you cool down

 

Read this article: http://www.allsportmedical.co.uk/first-aid-guides/Warm-Up-Cool-Down.aspx

 

as ive been playing football for about 5 years now, i can say that having a warmup is really important. Dno about warm downs.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. What would be the best stretches to warm-up with?

Currently when I do a run I have been getting straight into it after briefly stretching (probably not enough) and then near the end of it I will walk the rest which would take me like 2 minutes. Would this 2 minutes be enough for a cool down?

 

Feel free to hit me up on Skype about this, it really depends on your specific situation.

 

In terms of working out, dynamic stretches are the go-to for warm up. Static stretches take the elasticity out of the muscle for a period of time while increasing flexibility. All muscles should be stretches with dynamic stretches with only one exception of the hip-flexor.

When lifting weights stretching and warming up without working sets is also important. So if you're doing 100kg squats, you can't just hop to 80kg for your first set. People like to work up from 40kg with pause squats at the ensure the core is tight and so forth.

 

Okay. Currently I'm not in the gym lifting, just doing some cardio in running everyday. What would be the best stretching for running specifically for warm-ups and cool downs?

 

I feel it's better giving solid information so here's an article on stretches before/after running: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_1/126.shtml

 

They help you by preparing you for your main activity of exercise

For example
Stretching so you don't pull anything during cardio
Warm up reps to prep your muscles for work out

Warming up is incredibly important in fitness

 

They are very important, the main reason that athletes tear ligaments is because they don't properly warm up/stretch enough

 

You should go for a walk around the block before stretching. Stretching cold muscles helps but no where near as much as stretching warmed up muscles.
I don't know what the stretches are called, but I know how to do them all haha
When I get in I'll google it so I can tell which ones I do

 

Do some lunges. Lunges are the best exercise to warm you up, IMO.