Overstretching?

Nysportsred

I have noticed a lot of times when I stretch before working out that certain muscles feel "heavy" when I start. Is this a sign of overstretching?

I never thought about it until I went to an acupuncturist on Saturday and have acupunture and cupping done. It made such a huge difference. He mentioned "when you stretch just stretch until you feel it and then right away hold that. Don't stretch to the point where you really feel the muscle. After you workout you can stretch further and deeper." Problem is I guess I am so used to a deeper stretch that if I stop when I feel the muscle react I feel like nothing is really getting done. Probably a mental thing.

I know the argument will be made "you shouldn't stretch before working out", but I have had a PT and a doctor both tell me that my muscles seem to be naturally tight so for me I need to stretch before and after.

lorrpb

I would suggest a dynamic warmup like light sets of bodyweight squats, rows, and lunges, then stretch. I think it is more effective than going into stretching cold.

Nikion901

Yeah - you can over-extend and hurt yourself. Like your acupunterist said ... stretch a little and then you can repeat the set of stretches with deeper stretches.

tulips_and_tea

Stretching cold muscles is not a good idea. Definitely move around to warm up and then stretch afterwards. Over stretching would be like straining or pulling a muscle so don't do that.

Nysportsred

Nikion901 wrote: »

Yeah - you can over-extend and hurt yourself. Like your acupunterist said ... stretch a little and then you can repeat the set of stretches with deeper stretches.

repeat the in the same stretching sequence or after the workout you mean?

SueInAz

Dynamic stretching should be done before a workout. Static stretching after when your muscles are fully warmed up.

This was difficult for me when I started running 2011 since I was a gymnast in my teens. Back in the dark ages of the early 80s static stretching was really all there was so I was used to stretching that way before any type of physical activity.

My son started playing soccer in 1999 or so and I got into a long conversation with the coach about why the boys weren't stretching at the beginning of practice and before games. He explained the theories of dynamic stretching and pointed out that's what they boys were doing as they dipped, scooped and skipped back and forth across the field at the start of practice.

So while my body wants me to stretch before a run my brain knows that a few minutes of brisk walking, some skipping, hip swings, raised knee grabs, etc. are actually better for me. When I get back home I do the type of stretching I've always considered to be "real" stretching.