IS stretching before exercise necessary?

[9inarow]

Two years ago, I read an article in Mens Health magazine that stated stretching decreases muscle strength. So like a f*cken idiot, I listened to their BS ... and went cold onto the bench press HEAVY.

I hurt myself so bad I couldn't go back to the gym for 2 freakin' months!!!

Two lessons learned:

1) ALWAYS stretch
2) F*ck Mens Health magazine!!!!

[NateDogg]

Originally posted by 9inarow
Two years ago, I read an article in Mens Health magazine that stated stretching decreases muscle strength. So like a f*cken idiot, I listened to their BS ... and went cold onto the bench press HEAVY.

I hurt myself so bad I couldn't go back to the gym for 2 freakin' months!!!

Two lessons learned:

1) ALWAYS stretch
2) F*ck Mens Health magazine!!!!

Why did you equate "stretching decreases strength" (I am pretty sure they mean static stretching), with "don't warm-up before lifting heavy?

[Merrida]

Maybe I'm confused here?

Don't warm up before heavy lifting?

I wouldn't stretch before heavy lifting.

I WOULD warm up before anything.

And, I would never listen to the public mag/rags out there catered to sell supplements like: Muscle & Fiction, Mens Health, Fitness (regular -or- "For Her" for that matter),...most of these pubs are bogus to begin with, designed for flashy advertisements and they're incredibly misleading.

You need to seriously ask yourself if this is real. You know these guys and gals diet down for the photo shoots, the pics you see them posing with weights are just FOR the pics, and most of you know the routines they tell you to do are not the routines they used to get there. ("Most" of the time).

Most of the "articles" are to directly or indirectly sell something that mag has an interest in.

And how can one mag possibly tell "everyone" to do the same thing and cater to the variety of people reading it?

[9inarow]

Originally posted by NateDogg
Why did you equate "stretching decreases strength" (I am pretty sure they mean static stretching), with "don't warm-up before lifting heavy?

Because I'm a dumb azz!!! But I make sure to stretch AND warm-up now. No more messing around. ha, ha.

[Merrida]

A lot depends on specificity of training.

The "length tension" relationship demonstrates that a muscle generates maximum force when it begins its contraction at 1.2 times its resting length (ie: it's stretched). So, are you training for force? If so, then yes, stretching plays a distinct role.

It's also important to remember stretch reflexes and antagonistic muscle inhibition. What this means is that when one muscle is contracted, its opposing muscle must stretch. When your bicep contracts, the triceps stretch. When your quads contract, your hamstrings stretch.

If any given muscle's ability to stretch is impeded, it may adversely affect the OPPOSING muscle.

So once again, it's important to realize how the body works as a unit, not like separate, detached pieces. When you stretch a muscle you're in effect doing a lot more than "just" stretching that one muscle.... you're affecting the abilities of other muscles that you're not even thinking about, or that you may not even think are related.

[StevenD]

That was a cool post Merrida. I never even though about that.