Stretching and muscle growth

[augapfel]

I've been doing some preliminary reading, I think I may have even seen some here that says stretching can have a drastic effect on muscle growth. I've never heard this before. Is this an urban legend that is being propagated around, or is there some truth to it?

If there is some amount of truth to it, can someone please explain the methodology so that I can experiment with it.

Thanks all,

[Lee J B]

Well this is very true to a certain extent. It's even more truthful in relation to russian power stretching, which almost indeffinitly promotes muscle growth a lot more than a normal warm up. But yes without stretching your muscle is not, if you like, primed . It's also a case of people find with their muscles being ready for the up and coming lifts they can actually lift more, along with the serious fact that weight lifting, especially as you progress to heavier weights, is very dangerous insfofar as you will no doubt injure yourself and putyourself out of training for a lot longer than you thought..... I know, I've done it.

[angel22]

I didn't use to stretch much, but I have been stretching everyday for almost a month now and I see more results (of workout) in my body.

oh... and someone told me stretching will help you to do greater range of motion while lifting weight.

[goloid]

i really really have to start stretching

[Alex(AJ)]

this is just my opinion, but i've found it to be a load a bull-honkey.

I read once in some mag (when i was more gullible) that the key to growth was stretching, and they gave some russian stretching routine- start off stretching, then stretch during your rest break between sets, etc.... I didn't notice any change, and, if anything, I was almost weaker (because instead of resting between sets I was busy stretching).


Myself, all I do is do a few light sets with the bench, pressdowns, curls, lat pulldown, etc..., then hit it hard and heavy. Hasn't failed me yet.

[Lee J B]

True that, some people dont feel or see the difference.... but trust me it makes all the difference. It is a proven scientific fact that stretching or priming the muscle ready for intense works enables the subject to more heavily and intensely target the muscle. But I can see the serious point you made there Alex

[EFAAP]

Yes stretching is very beneficial. It does not lead to muscle growth, but it will HELP you achieve muscle growth. Some people have a very tight fascia, which is the connective tissue enveloping, separating, or binding together muscles, organs, and other soft structures of the body. By stretching this and loosening it up somewhat, it has the same effect on the muscles as you would have on trying to blow up a balloon. If you try to blow one up and it is difficult, you stretch the balloon to loosen it up, then it blows up easier.

Some of the most successful personal trainers out there will do two things when they are helping a client. The first being up the protein in the diet and the second is incorporate stretching.

There are some extreme stretching methods that you can use. But they are to the point of being extremely painful.