What does cooling down after an exercise session help to achieve?

Cooling down after an exercise session is essential for returning the circulatory system to its normal state. During intense physical activity, the heart rate increases, and blood flow is directed towards the working muscles. A proper cool-down helps prevent sudden changes in blood pressure and gradually lowers the heart rate back to its resting state.

This process is important for several reasons: it helps to maintain blood flow to the muscles, reduces the risk of dizziness or fainting that might occur if one were to stop exercising abruptly, and aids in the removal of metabolic waste products that have accumulated during exercise. By allowing the body to gradually transition back to its resting state, cooling down promotes recovery and prepares the body for subsequent physical activity.

The other choices do not align with the purpose of a cool-down. For instance, increasing muscle tension, enhancing heart rate, and preventing breath control are not objectives of this phase, which focuses instead on recovery and stabilizing physiological parameters.