Van Hooren & Peake 2018, do we need a cool-down after exercise?

Narrative review in Sports Medicine. Active cool-downs do not meaningfully reduce muscle soreness or speed recovery of muscle-damage markers, contractile function, stiffness or range of motion, and do not prevent injury. They are largely ineffective for same-day and next-day performance, with a few reports of small next-day benefits. Regular cool-downs do not appear to blunt long-term adaptation. Conclusion: largely inert rather than harmful.