Thoughts on Stretching

[liftw8t]

Who here stretches before weight training? I stretch everything but legs due to they always feel tired after i stretch them good.

[CJG560]

I stretch before and after. I don't do a ton, it takes me a total of about 10 min. My lower back gives me problems from time to time and I find it helps me avoid this.

[DSM4Life]

Never stretch before if anything maybe after.

[energizer bunny]

i never stretch before....just a warm up......and i rarely stretch after because i do cardio and basically to lazy to stretch.........

[CHAP]

I do continuous stretching even through out the workout

[CHAP]

i never stretch before....just a warm up......and i rarely stretch after because i do cardio and basically to lazy to stretch.........

Keep it real.

[Okinawa_Power]

The only thing I stretch is my calves....I have read that stretching decreases your strength.....I read that in a really popular magazine.......I don't know if we can name mags on this site or not......But if you feel you have to stretch then by all means stretch away........

[stpete]

I always stretch before and am constantly keeping my upper body loose thru the workouts. Wear and tear over the years i guess cause i never used to strech like i do now. But it does make a difference for me.

[Okinawa_Power]

Pete you don't stretch you warm up!!!!! You old man!!!!!

[liftw8t]

The only thing I stretch is my calves....I have read that stretching decreases your strength.....I read that in a really popular magazine.......I don't know if we can name mags on this site or not......But if you feel you have to stretch then by all means stretch away........

Right I heard this too and I use just warm up but joints feel better when i stretch

[bigrich4]

I'd like to tell people I stretch, but I don't. Maybe for 1 miunte before and not after, I know its good but when I'm done I want to but don't.

[Nooomoto]

I have the dexterity of an oak tree, so I've been stretching for about 15 min before I lift in order to correct this.

[MuscleScience]

I stretch after working out, If you think about it there is really no reason if your weight training to try and lengthen out a muscle. After working out it is good to get the muscle to resting length again. There is a Length Tension relationship with muscles. A muscle will only produce optimal force within a finite length range. Also stretching before weight training causes a change in neural input from the joints. This is probably not conducive to optimal force production either as it causes gamma motor neuron feedback inhibition.

[TJ09]

I always only stretch after a workout it tears the muscles even more, I forget what percent. As soon as I get in the gym I do maybe 12 minutes on the stepper just to get the body warmed up so the muscles arent cold.

[Older lifter]

I read some research (latest one) that states you should not stretch before working out as there is a recorded loss of strength... warm -up before and you can stretch after