Heated muscles from strenous exercise also need to relax, stretch and cool down adequately before lying down, or lactic acid will build up causing pain and discomfort.
Also, from what I've read, there is little evidence to support the idea that a cool down will reduce muscle pain.
Lactic acid builds up only during moderate to intense exercise (depending on training status) when your muscles don't receive enough oxygen, and its clearance rate is lower than its production rate. Obviously when you stop exercising your oxygen demands reduce, providing more for lactate clearance (and other recovery). Lactic acid is actually oxidised to form energy.
Studies have shown that a cool down at low intensity will hasten lactate removal. So this may help with muscle soreness after exercising. However, stretching has little, if any evidence showing it to help muscle soreness after exercising. (also interesting, static stretching before exercise reduces power, strength, kinesthetic awareness and a few other things)
To moE
Yeah i could see this working. After a good cardio sesh i feel a bit 'dreamy'. Don't know if you will be able to get to sleep though. I might try this tomorrow.
