06/24/2025
Summer Heat Doesn’t Replace a Warm-Up: Why You Still Need to Prep Your Body Properly
Summer on Bowen Island means more people are out moving—hiking, paddling, gardening, playing pickleball, or diving into weekend rec sports. And with the sun shining, it’s easy to assume your body is already “warmed up.” But here’s the thing: just because the weather is hot doesn’t mean your body is ready for action.
Warm Weather ≠ Warmed-Up Muscles
A hot day might raise your skin temperature and make you sweat faster, but it doesn’t prepare your joints, muscles, or nervous system for the demands of sport or activity.
A proper dynamic warm-up does more than just get you warm—it:
Increases circulation to target muscle groups
Primes the neuromuscular system
Improves mobility and joint range
Activates key stabilizing muscles
Builds coordination and control before complex or high-impact movement
Skipping this step is a recipe for preventable injuries like strains, sprains, or overuse flare-ups—especially in the shoulders, hips, knees, and low back.
Why It’s Even More Important in Summer
In warm weather, we’re often less aware of stiffness, but that doesn't mean our tissue is prepared for sudden impact, direction changes, or endurance. People tend to jump straight into high-output movement—like sprinting for a ball, lifting a kayak, or hammering out a trail run—without adequate prep.
That’s where dynamic movement prep makes all the difference.
What Does a Proper Summer Warm-Up Look Like?
At Bowen Island Integrated Health, we teach clients how to warm up effectively for their unique lifestyle—whether it’s sport, recreation, or just active living. A good warm-up doesn’t need to be long—it just needs to be purposeful.
A summer-specific warm-up might include:
Joint mobility (hip circles, thoracic rotations)
Muscle activation (glute bridges, scapular retractions)
Movement prep (bodyweight squats, walking lunges, arm swings)
Breathing work to reset the core and ribcage
We tailor warm-ups to your goals, injury history, and activity level, so you’re not just ready—you’re resilient.
Want Help Staying Active and Injury-Free This Summer?
Whether you’re training for an event, playing weekend tennis, or just chasing your kids around the beach, the team at Bowen Island Integrated Health can help you move smarter and avoid setbacks. From chiropractic and physio, to massage, kinesiology, acupuncture, and more—we’re here to keep you doing what you love.
Book a session today and get personalized guidance on how to stay strong, mobile, and injury-free this summer. Your body deserves more than just sunshine—it deserves preparation.
