Stretching & Weightlifting

[aptar]

What about stretching and max-ot (or weight lifting in general) does it make a difference? I was told that stretching after a work out gives you smaller stronger leaner muscle with high connective tissue to bone % that sounds cool but I don’t want to lose size………

So max-ot and weightlifting no, yes, why, when (is yes do it after workout or wait till later)

Reasons for stretching I heard are; the more flexible your muscles the fast they can contract (swing a punch), gets the lactic acid out, prevents DOMS, prevent injury, increase connective tissue %, ummmmm I think that’s all I can recall.

Any one heard this? Any truth to any of this?

[etothepii]

I've not heard that stretching causes muscles to decrease size or change shape. I have heard that static stretching can cause a short term decrease in muscle strength, and should therefore be avoided before lifting. Dynamic stretching before lifting is OK.

I have heard that weighted stretches may inhance hypertrophy. It's called "stretching the bag" theory, or something like that. Lets say on pec flies, you lower your arms down and get a REEEEEAAAALLLLLYYYY good stretch on the bottom of the movement, using the weight of the dumbells to assist in the stretch. You are stretching out the membranes enclosing the pecs, which makes it easier for the muscle inside to grow. Kind of like stretching out a brand new balloon before blowing it up.

I don't really know if there's any truth to that theory, but it's what I've heard.