FINISHING TOUCHES

Finishers should be the icing on the cake of every workout. Sarah Haselwood explains why

- Sarah Haselwood

You know that feeling when your workout is almost finished, and it’s time to cool down, rest and recover. But there’s a nagging feeling that you could do just a little bit more. Introducing: finishers! Love or hate them, finishers are designed to be your final push and are typically intense bursts of strength or cardio exercises.

We discuss how finishers can target different groups of muscles and give some examples to try during your routines to ramp up results and expend every last ounce of energy.

Full-body benefits

While in recovery after exercise, your body keeps burning energy. This energy helps you to return to your resting state and includes the increased use of oxygen and calories. It's known as the ‘afterburn effect’ or post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC).

By exerting your muscles in a finisher, your body burns extra energy and causes more muscle wear than exercising at a lower intensity. After your workout, your body needs to restore that energy and fix any muscle damage, which takes a lot of energy and burns extra calories. One study shows that the impact of EPOC can increase calorie burn by 6-15%.

Mental resilience

Danny Brunton, physiotherapist and Enertor ambassador, says finishers can help to improve muscle strength, endurance and mental resilience because you keep going when your body is tired. “These are perfect for short-distance speed races, long-distance running, and athletic endeavours such as Hyrox,” he says.

Hyrox Master Trainer and Represent 247 athlete, much of his training revolves around preparing for the gruelling Hyrox competitions, where energy stores are depleted, and fatigue can set in as the race continues.