IS stretching before exercise necessary?

[angel22]

Someone said she heard some kind of study said it is not necessary. (IT was several years ago.)

I know warm up is more imprortant than stretching, but it is really unnecessary? It does not hurt to stretch before exercising... would it?????? :confused:
I though it helps exercise because more flexibility = more range of motion and I thought it will prevent injury.

I know it is good to stretch after exercise though...
What do you think?

[Wellsy]

When most of us exercise, we don’t want to ‘waste’ what little time we have stretching. Instead we use every minute to pound the treadmill, pump iron or even punch our way to a fitter body. Because we tend not to stretch our pumped-up muscles adequately, they don’t get used to their full capacity and become tighter and more prone to injury. If you incorporate stretching as an essential part of your fitness plan, the benefits will soon become obvious:

- Recovery time between workouts improves
- Injuries are more easily prevented
- Muscle fibres become elongated, looking longer and leaner
- Posture and flexibility are improved
- Workouts are more efficient as muscles can move within their full range
- Circulation is increased allowing your body to cool down safely and muscles to recover
- Helps mental relaxation and focus

[brian_y24]

I think stretching is very important. I stretch before, during and after weightlifting, as far as I know stretching helps get the blood flowing to your muscles which helps to warm you up and the biggest reason I stretch is to help prevent injury! Just my opinion hope it helps!

[NateDogg]

I do a couple sets with extremely light weight. Squatting, benching and deadlifting with just the bar before I start each respective exercise. Dynamic stretching, I feel is necessary and benefical prior to a workout. Static stretching I feel is unnecessary prior to a workout.

[sac1973]

here is an excerpt from an article that dogg crapp wrote on anabolic extreme: Both Dogg and I are major advocates of stretching prior to working
out and MORE IMPORTANTLY STRETCHING TO THE POINT OF THRESHOLDS AFTER working out. I (Meuller) even more so after having torn a triceps and having 200 cc’s of pus removed from a bicep in May of this year. At a bodyweight of over 310 lbs, I am the very definition of “muscle-bound” and find it very difficult to perform actions that most people take for granted (like tying my shoes, and I’m not joking). As such, I am routinely stretched every week by another trainer to try and maintain some modicum of flexibility, and stretch prior to and while working out to avoid further injuries (or exacerbate the ones I currently have). I happily take my hat off to Dogg and give credit where credit is due, the guy is an amazing trainer and showed a young and cocky
Jason Meuller what hardcore was really all about back in ’94. He believes like Jon Parillo did, that "extreme stretching" directly after a bodypart is trained is key for recuperation, recovery, and a primer for growth via fascial stretching and maybe even hyperplasia

i have been doing it for about two wks now. will let you guys now how it goes in 6wks.

[Alex(AJ)]

define "stretching"

to me, that means i go, do a few sets with light weights (e.g., on chest day i'll do 2set bench- bar, then 140, and 3set pressdowns with 40pds) then start my workout.


(reason i say define is because everybody has their own view of what stretching is)

[Amkey]

Angel,
Put 2 rubber bands in the freezer for about 8 hours. take the first one and start stretching it tremendously as far as you can and see what heppens. take the other one out and start off stretching it a little and then a little more and then a little more and see what happens. Maybe that will help you with your answer
Amk

[angel22]

Thanks guys.

To me, stretching is ... I don't know how to explaing, bending over and stuff.... lol.

[Alex(AJ)]

Originally posted by angel22
Thanks guys.

To me, stretching is ... I don't know how to explaing, bending over and stuff.... lol.

oh, okay, makes sense....i guess i'm just so used to calling stretching light warmups (i.e., not like flexibility stuff, but lifting with light weights)

[Merrida]

I wouldn't stretch before working out (or if I did, I'd keep it to a minimum) --- the reason is two fold. One is that it may make you more prone to injury, and another it undoes the whole warm up (the time it takes to stretch lets your heart rate come down).

I've read various reports stating stretching the muscle being exercised between each set will improve overall strength of that muscle. And, I've read the contrary, to reserve stretching for a post-workout activity as part of the overall cool down.

It does help connective tissue accomodate the growing muscles.

I think it's pretty common, especially among those of us who like to lift heavy, that we don't view stretching as one of those active parts of our workouts we like doing, and if we DO manage to do it, there's probably a reason for it specific to an over-use injury or soreness from lactic acid.

It works, it feels good, but I'd reserve it for after workouts.

[goloid]

i NEVER stretch

i really gotta start

[arbit]

The standard opinion used to be that streching before exercising was good for preventing injuries. But recently I have read in some places that streching before weight training might acutally promote injuries and decrease performance. Light warmups are supposed to be better as u mentioned.
I guess nobody knows for sure rite now

[StevenD]

I was beginning to have a pinch in my left shoulder when I did bench presses. I started stretching for a couple of minutes after a 5 minute cardio warm-up, before I start the workout. The problem is history. Whatever the evidence for or against, it works for me.

[angel22]

ok. other than the fact your heart late might come down while stretching how about warming up first by rotating and maybe lifting very light weights, then stretch then workout?

[NateDogg]

Originally posted by angel22
ok. other than the fact your heart late might come down while stretching how about warming up first by rotating and maybe lifting very light weights, then stretch then workout?

Lifting with very light weights, assuming full range of motion, if not exaggerated, is stretching.

EDIT: For that matter, lifting heavy weights through a full range of motion is stretching.