Stretching My Body...

Mgkeeper · 07-Jul-04, 03:43 PM

OK, I heard in another thread, that most knowledgeable people say passive stretching is the right way to do it. So what is that, what do you do exactly?? And also. I heard that if you're very un-limber like me (i cant touch my toes with my legs locked i can barely get past my knees) that it's impossible to increase my limberness to the point of say, doing a split, or touching my nose to my knee with my leg locked. Is that true??

AndrewH · 07-Jul-04, 06:15 PM

i wouldnt think itd be true. because from the time i began and stopped doing gymnastics i was pretty much as un-limber as you, and now i can do all three splits relatively easy, and make my head pretty much get to the floor while grabbing my toes.

Herrmann22 · 08-Jul-04, 04:58 AM

This brings up a question:

When is the best time to stretch? Let's say I am going to hit the treadmill for about 20 minutes. Do I stretch alot before the run or after, or both? If both, how much before and how much after?

Is there any better times during the day to stretch? This sounds strange but I was wondering if there were any scientific findings on when to stretch and how often.

I always had a problem knowing how much time I needed when I did stretch. For instance your legs; how much time do you spend on them per day, per week?

Thanks!

**cursor** · 08-Jul-04, 07:53 AM

Here are some posts that I've created that address stretching:

stretching 1
stretching 2
stretching 3
stretching 4
stretching 5
stretching 6
stretching 7

rrouleau · 08-Jul-04, 08:10 AM

So its better not to stretch before a workout. OK i got that part, but how about stretching before cardio or a sport type event???

**cursor** · 08-Jul-04, 08:36 AM

NEVER stretch before your joints and connective tissue are warm and pliant (have adequate blood flow). I think that's pretty clear from the references.

rrouleau · 08-Jul-04, 09:38 AM

crystal clear.....thank you cursor!

Mgkeeper · 08-Jul-04, 01:14 PM

thx for the tips cursor, but it still hasn't answered my question. My questions were:

1.What exactly is passive stretching?
2. If you're extremely un-limber like me, is it impossible to become extremely limber, because I've waited too long? Like would it be impossible to get to that point where i could touch a locked leg to my nose.

**cursor** · 08-Jul-04, 02:32 PM

1. Relax into the stretch. Don't force it. Don't flex your muscle. A gradual progression is absolutely necessary.
2. I was much the same. My brother could stand, bend over (straight-legged) and grab his toes (almost put his palms flat on the ground). I couldn't. Through very graduated/progressive stretching, I can now wrap my fingers around my toes.

: You can too. With respect to doing the splits ... I'm not at all interested in that level of flexibility.

Herrmann22 · 10-Jul-04, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cursor

...I can now wrap my fingers around my toes.

: You can too. With respect to doing the splits ... I'm not at all interested in that level of flexibility.

Amen Cursor, me either. Although...., it would be nice if the wife had that kind of flexibility.

Ta Da

ajarvis · 12-Jul-04, 11:57 AM

When I first started stretching I could barely touch my toes, and can now put my palms flat on the floor. I stretch both before and after a workout. I do more stretching afer a cardio workout than a weight lifting one. Just the way my body feels after a workout determines how long I stretch for. When I was running over 6 miles I could stretch for 15 min. easy after the run.
Personally I find yoga to be great for stretching specially after an intense workout.

Mgkeeper · 27-Jul-04, 10:28 AM

well then, this gives me another q, can anyone point me to a site or thread that details what stretching exercise does what muscle, and the reps and all of that??

ajarvis · 27-Jul-04, 03:28 PM

Here's a site with some descriptions and info on stretching. I generally hold each stretch for 15 - 30 secs, and stretch each muscle a couple of times, but I go by feel if they need an extra stretch or two I do :0

http://www.netfit.co.uk/stretmen.htm

Mgkeeper · 01-Aug-04, 05:05 AM

i dunno man, this site seems to say, you have to stretch before exercise, but everyone here says thats bad because your muscles need to be warmed up before stretching??

EDIT: Scratch that, it was different, anywho...

it seems to be saying that the stretching just stretches your muscles to their previous position before they were (constricted??) to their current point. Will these actually make my msucles that i stretch any longer, so that i can stretch further??