Thread: To stretch, or, not to stretch. That is MY question.

Originally Posted by FishOrCutBait

I know this is probably just "gym science" but Ive always been told stretching hinders muscular growth, any truth to that?

where in the world did you hear that ? that has got to be the most erroneous information I have ever heard. stretching the muscle fascia increases the potential for hypertrophy

Stretching rocks.

Stretching before the muscles are warm can cause injury.

Stretching the muscle group you are training during a workout can hinder your strength (although stretching the antagonistic muscle can increase it).

Stretching the muscle you just finished training can theoretically increase hypertrophy.

OH!!! Okay then!!! I will definitely start stretching at the end of my w/o!

(I got GOPRO to post on my thread, *giggles*)


Sry, lol... Thanks, all!

Yes consider yourself lucky Lad. As his campaign Mgr (T.O.M) he's sure to be the next PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. All he needs now is a PT TAZ. Get your ass over here GOPRO the ink is ready!

Originally Posted by FishOrCutBait

OH!!! Okay then!!! I will definitely start stretching at the end of my w/o!

(I got GOPRO to post on my thread, *giggles*)


Sry, lol... Thanks, all!

Originally Posted by gopro

Stretching before the muscles are warm can cause injury.

Stretching the muscle group you are training during a workout can hinder your strength (although stretching the antagonistic muscle can increase it).

Stretching the muscle you just finished training can theoretically increase hypertrophy.

Ok...lets look at this. GP's first point is: stretching COULD cause injury...no thanks 2nd point: stretching COULD hinder your strength...no thanks. 3rd point: stretching can theoretically increase hypertrophy...THEORETICALLY??? Still not good enough to make me go out and start stretching. GoPro, do YOU stretch???

Originally Posted by BiggerNstronger

Ok...lets look at this. GP's first point is: stretching COULD cause injury...no thanks 2nd point: stretching COULD hinder your strength...no thanks. 3rd point: stretching can theoretically increase hypertrophy...THEORETICALLY??? Still not good enough to make me go out and start stretching. GoPro, do YOU stretch???

good points but it would only cause injury if u didnt know what your doing but i tottally agree

Originally Posted by BiggerNstronger

Still not good enough to make me go out and start stretching.

then you can forget about maximizing the results of your training and diet. if you think that you can get massive and remain unflexable, you have much to learn

Originally Posted by LAM

then you can forget about maximizing the results of your training and diet. if you think that you can get massive and remain unflexable, you have much to learn

Lets see. Massive? check. Flexible? check. Next lesson?

Im being a smart-aleck to an extent but Im not looking to be able to do the splits or anything. I do some minor stretching for sure, NOT every single muscle group, NOT every single time I workout. Im not training for competition. I can still touch my toes and comb my hair so I must be doing something right.

Originally Posted by gopro

Stretching before the muscles are warm can cause injury.

Originally Posted by gopro

Stretching the muscle group you are training during a workout can hinder your strength (although stretching the antagonistic muscle can increase it).

Stretching the muscle you just finished training can theoretically increase hypertrophy.

Ill say no more

Aside from, GOPRO ROCKS MY FACE!! AND P/RR/S IS CWAZY!!!!

Originally Posted by BiggerNstronger

Ok...lets look at this. GP's first point is: stretching COULD cause injury...no thanks 2nd point: stretching COULD hinder your strength...no thanks. 3rd point: stretching can theoretically increase hypertrophy...THEORETICALLY??? Still not good enough to make me go out and start stretching. GoPro, do YOU stretch???

Stretching a COLD muscle can cause injury, stretching right before you preform an exercise that uses that muscle can decrease your strength, but only for a short time. Stretching after you work out, which eliminates the other problems, increases hypertrophy.

the underlines werent enough? Lol, im just kidding...

I stretch pretty intensely these days.

Extreme stretching after you finish working out a muscle can help with growth especially in the quads.

So should you stretch directly after uve trained each muscle group, or will stretching after your complete workout have the same benefits?

Stretching is absolutely crucial both before, during and after workouts to prevent injury and to also get the maximum amount of blood to the muscles. Bodybuilders, ultimately, are after the best pump possible and sretching really opens up the muscles and lets the blood flow in.

Originally Posted by BiggerNstronger

Ok...lets look at this. GP's first point is: stretching COULD cause injury...no thanks 2nd point: stretching COULD hinder your strength...no thanks. 3rd point: stretching can theoretically increase hypertrophy...THEORETICALLY??? Still not good enough to make me go out and start stretching. GoPro, do YOU stretch???

Well, considering you deluted the information, it is hard to pull any kind of useful information from this comment. Read more carefully:

Stretching cold muscles could cause injury. Therefore, you should warmup. Which you should be doing anyway. As well, you could stretch solely after a workout.

Stretching the target muscle group during a workout could lead to slightly decreased strength. Just don't stretch during a workout.

Okay, the solution I come to is stretch after you workout. Injury is highly unlikely as a result. In fact, the added flexibility you gain as a result is more likely to prevent injuries than cause them (Go ahead and do some squats with stiff hips; I dare you). Furthermore, it will reduce DOMS and potentially allow for greater hypertrophy potential by stretching the muscle fascia.

i read a study in sports medicine magizine that said if you stretch before exercise you lose 2-5% of your strength but if you continously stretch over a long period of time on your off days you actually increase your strength by 2-5%. Also, they remind everyone that there is NO EVIDENCE that stretching before durign or after exercise decreases injury. In fact they even cite some studies that show increased injury rates.

Originally Posted by BiggerNstronger

Ok...lets look at this. GP's first point is: stretching COULD cause injury...no thanks 2nd point: stretching COULD hinder your strength...no thanks. 3rd point: stretching can theoretically increase hypertrophy...THEORETICALLY??? Still not good enough to make me go out and start stretching. GoPro, do YOU stretch???

To answer your question...here is a complete answer for you...

Before training I DO NOT STRETCH, but I do warm-up extensively.

During a workout I stretch the ANTAGONISTIC muscle to the one I am working between sets. If I'm training quads I will stretch the hams, for example.

After I finish training a bodypart I IMMEDIATELY begin intense stretching of that muscle group while the pump is at its maximum.

I do this at EVERY workout without fail.

Originally Posted by gopro

To answer your question...here is a complete answer for you...

Before training I DO NOT STRETCH, but I do warm-up extensively.

During a workout I stretch the ANTAGONISTIC muscle to the one I am working between sets. If I'm training quads I will stretch the hams, for example.

After I finish training a bodypart I IMMEDIATELY begin intense stretching of that muscle group while the pump is at its maximum.

I do this at EVERY workout without fail.

Thanks.

Man, GoPro posted TWICE at my thread!!!

Originally Posted by FishOrCutBait

Man, GoPro posted TWICE at my thread!!!

You are funny

*swoon* THREE??? WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS??

Lol, you rock.

Power to people named Eric! (im an Eric too... lol...... ... ...)

Okay, maybe im a sad, sad little man.

Originally Posted by FishOrCutBait

*swoon* THREE??? WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS??

Lol, you rock.

Power to people named Eric! (im an Eric too... lol...... ... ...)

Okay, maybe im a sad, sad little man.

Well I'm an Erik too! I'm a Largepkg though.

Unfortunately I can't be in the club because my mom spelled my name with a "k"!

HA!!! YOU ARENT COOL LIKE US!!!! lol

Cool, I was always streching during a set. Now I know to do it afterwards.

I do it afterwards, during and after my warm up sometimes I do some SMF stretching if I feel really tight (usually if I am not training strength stuff though. then I do active or dynamic stretches to warm up.).

is there a website or can anyone give me some good stretches for lower back, groin, hamstrings, quads, etc..

I only know a few basic stretching but i need more. So a site with pictures is what i need if anyone knows a good site.