27 replies to this topic

[OneStrongMutha]

I always stretch. I always stretch after I work out also, just to keep my range of motion. Plus it feels good.

[chaos]

although i am sure that the before/after thing is the way to go...i rarely stretch...bad chaos

[OneStrongMutha]

I have just been doing it my whole life, with baseball and all. So im just used ot it.

[bailey]

whatever works..But I think sooner or later, everyone will be doing
some kind of stretching before or after...I learned the hard way..

Never stretched for years...Now I have to or injuires or anything
happens...Have to be smart....

[OneStrongMutha]

I played in since I was 5, and stopped after a couple years at a juco, Navaro.

[ICEDakDR]

I agree w/ superbeast in that I don't believe you should stretch before weight training, for a few reasons...1 stretching a cold muscle is more likely to do more harm than good, and 2 I have read where stretching before weight training can decrease strength, not majorly, but it can...kind of in the order of pre-exhaustion...BUT I always stretch all of my muscles after each workout. If you stretch after, you do a few things...you keep your body warm for a longer period of time which helps mutrients reach the muscles, 2 by stretching a warm muscle you are doing a more beneficial stretch because the muscle can travel a greater distance and be less susceptible to tears or strains, and 3 by helping nutrients such as your post workout dextrose and whey protein reach your muscles faster and thus overall increases your ability to recover faster and more thorough....I also stretch every day after I lift in the hot tub...the gym I lift at has one so I take full advantage and treat myself right. I do my stretching routine in all of 10-15 mins. so don't act like it takes up too much time.

[nuge7076]

Stretching is great. It actually helps to prevent injuries. It promotes better circulation throughout the muscles that are stretched. Especially as we get older, muscles, tendons, & ligaments have a tendency to become tighter. When this happens it really inhibits some if not all of our physical activity, making it harder to recover if we are fairly active. So, yes when you can stretch..... :kicking:

[cronus]

i loosen up and warm up real good but never stretch i'm afraid it'll make me weaker. i like the spring in my muscles

[schultz1]

I am a big fan of stretching,I used to always stretch and got away from it for a while and all hell started to break loose my hip flexors got so damn tight i had a hard time squatting

[whitey]

I only stretch before a workout to the extent of loosening up the joints enough to prevent injury. I have read that intense stretching before a workout can decrease strength by 15-30%, so I stay away from it.

I do however perform intense stretching on each muscle group immediately after working it. It opens up the muscle fascia, priming the muscle for growth. It helps maintain flexibility. And last, but certainly not least, studies have shown that the very act of stretching causes the body to release human growth hormone. For these reasons, I always stretch after working each muscle group. I consider it to be part of the workout itself.

[redspy]

I do some light stretching combine with 2-3 warm-up sets. I find it particularly important to stretch my shoulders.

[bigsampson]

I stretch sometimes but not all