Stretching...is this a do or don't??
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amy_young_doingit
Posts: 11 Member
I'd like to get some advise on stretching. Should I be stretching before working out or after? Or is it important to stretch at all? Will streching change the appearance of my body? For example will it make me look taller and leaner? Thanks for any advice you can give!
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Replies
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I'd like to get some advise on stretching. Should I be stretching before working out or after?
Both but don't do long bouts of stretching prior to lifting. There's been studies done that have proven that long bouts of stretching prior to lifting actually weakens the muscles. That said if a muscle is really tight, stretch it good before lifting. A tight muscle is a short muscle so it needs to stretched a bit longer regardless. As you work muscles, they'll get tight (and shorten) so longer stretching afterwards is a good thing.For example will it make me look taller and leaner?
Not sure if serious?....0 -
Never stretch cold muscles- bad mojo.
You should always do a light warm up of 2-3 minutes (some people say 5 but I don't have time for that) then do some stretching/mobitlity stuff.
then do your work out- stretch's what's tight as you work out- I do a lot of back stretching when I'm doing squats- you are loading the spine- so I like to jump on the pull up bar and dead hang and let the body weight do it's stretching- feels glorious.
Then stretch some more- buy a foam roller- roll what's tight.
Mobitliy, stretching, flexibility- next to rest/recovery- are the two most over lucked aspects of fitness.
Seriously.
make you leaner/taller?
Stretching affects muscles.
Bones make you the height you are.
So. No.0 -
I don't stretch, I just warm up with some cardio before lifting.0
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Warm up (jumping jacks, stairs, whatever, slow jog)
Exercise (lift/cardio)
Static stretching (gentle, slow, stretches - no bouncing)0 -
Warmup - Stretch - Workout - Stretch
That's how I do it anyway ... like another poster said, don't stretch cold muscles, ALWAYS do a warmup (jog, jacks, jumprope). Stretching prevents injury!0 -
Very important after working out, helps prevent injury! I didn't stretch properly and i paid the price!0
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I stretch all the time and practically live on my foam roller. Honestly I don't think it's one of those things for which there is a hard and fast rule... do what feels good to you!0
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I stretch all the time and practically live on my foam roller. Honestly I don't think it's one of those things for which there is a hard and fast rule... do what feels good to you!
I Love/Hate my Foam roller; Foam is Sooooo misleading:laugh: but I do a warm up light stretch, then stretch after. The foam roller really helps with my legs after running and I have fusion at L5-S1 and it is a great help there too0 -
Warmup - Stretch - Workout - Stretch
That's how I do it anyway ... like another poster said, don't stretch cold muscles, ALWAYS do a warmup (jog, jacks, jumprope). Stretching prevents injury!
That depends upon what type of stretching you're talking about. Dynamic stretching prior can, but if you perform static stretching before a workout (warm or not) it can actually heighten the chance of injury. From my experience, dynamic stretching is most commonly recommended prior to exercise. From High School through College, and beyond I've never had a strength and conditioning trainer put us through static stretches prior to competition. Dynamic Stretches/Plyos.0 -
Warmup - Stretch - Workout - Stretch
^^^ This.
Ignore those that are giving advice based on the assumption that you are only lifting. Stretching is vital before doing cardio - go look at any professional sports team you can imagine before they play a game and note how much stretching they do. It helps prevent injury.
Light stretching after cardio also helps reduce the chance of stiffness.
Stretching is less important if all you are doing is lifting, for sure, but I would still do some...0 -
I stretch all the time and practically live on my foam roller. Honestly I don't think it's one of those things for which there is a hard and fast rule... do what feels good to you!
This!^ If you feel particularly tight in one area .....make sure you incorporate stretching (not cold muscles). Everyone is different .....I have tight hamstings....I always have to stretch those.0 -
I foam roll and strectch BUT NEVER BEFORE MY WORKOUTS. I usually do them at night while watching TV. Helps breakdown muscle fibers and speed up recovery.
Instead of stretching before a workout, hop on a treadmill at a steady speed and slight incline for 5-10 min (this will be your warmup). That's it. You're welcome0 -
I'd like to get some advise on stretching. Should I be stretching before working out or after? Or is it important to stretch at all? Will streching change the appearance of my body? For example will it make me look taller and leaner? Thanks for any advice you can give!
do a quick warm up then stretch.. then workout then stretch. It'll help prevent you from injuring yourself, and will help avoid super stiff muscles the next day. Plus it feel AWESOME to stretch after a workout. :~)0 -
I stretch all the time and practically live on my foam roller. Honestly I don't think it's one of those things for which there is a hard and fast rule... do what feels good to you!
I Love/Hate my Foam roller; Foam is Sooooo misleading:laugh: but I do a warm up light stretch, then stretch after. The foam roller really helps with my legs after running and I have fusion at L5-S1 and it is a great help there too
I KNOW!! I have a rumble roller and a trigger point smart core roller and they rotate between heaven (release of upper/lower back tension) and hell (IT Band... 'nuff said!)0 -
Warmup - Stretch - Workout - Stretch
^^^ This.
Ignore those that are giving advice based on the assumption that you are only lifting. Stretching is vital before doing cardio - go look at any professional sports team you can imagine before they play a game and note how much stretching they do. It helps prevent injury.
Light stretching after cardio also helps reduce the chance of stiffness.
Stretching is less important if all you are doing is lifting, for sure, but I would still do some...
Actually static stretching prior to cardio is really....really frowned upon, and many sports teams don't perform static stretching prior to competition. Dynamic stretching and plyometric warmups.0 -
Ok.. what's a foam roller do? How do you use it? What's it's purpose? What's the benefits? Pre cardio? Pre lifting? or Post? both or only for one?0
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snip snip snop
[/b]Stretching is less important if all you are doing is lifting[/b]...bla bla bla
that is the biggest load of crap ever.
It's almost more important. mobility is wildly important to lifting. I stretch more now than I ever did running cross country.0 -
I stretch all the time and practically live on my foam roller. Honestly I don't think it's one of those things for which there is a hard and fast rule... do what feels good to you!
I Love/Hate my Foam roller; Foam is Sooooo misleading:laugh: but I do a warm up light stretch, then stretch after. The foam roller really helps with my legs after running and I have fusion at L5-S1 and it is a great help there too
I KNOW!! I have a rumble roller and a trigger point smart core roller and they rotate between heaven (release of upper/lower back tension) and hell (IT Band... 'nuff said!)
I injured my knee and was using it on IT band and my son was looking at me "Dad WTH! if it hurts so much why are you doing it?":laugh: but in the end it is awesome:happy:0 -
Short cardio warm-up, 3-5 minutes of dynamic stretching before lifting, 3-5 minutes of static stretching or foam rolling after lifting, 25 minutes of yoga on my rest days.
Stretching will make you more flexible, which enables you to have a better range of motion during workouts and daily activities. Some would say that flexibility helps to prevent injuries.0 -
Actually static stretching prior to cardio is really....really frowned upon, and many sports teams don't perform static stretching prior to competition. Dynamic stretching and plyometric warmups.
^ this.0
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