Thread: regarding stretching...

To my knowledge, stretching doesn't actually cause any type of stress, trauma, or damage. The only thing I would do is avoid stretching if you haven't been moving around much. I usually try to do at least a brief warm-up before I stretch if I didn't do a full blown workout. An example would be some body squats, pushups, windmills, and lateral lunges. Nothing exhausting, but enough to get your joints lubed up and muscles warmed up a bit.

I'm reasonably confident that a recent (and credible) study has shown that stretching has no benefit and can actually increase risk of injury pre-workout.

I dont stretch pre workout, but I stretch at other times during the day.

Just do static stretching after your workout, doing it before can reduce the amount of strength you can produce. Dynamic stretching is great as a warm up, but I don't know of any studies that show it increases ROM for the long-term. Doesn't mean it doesn't, however. Anecdotally, I have seen very good functional ROM increases from dynamic stretching.

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

Just do static stretching after your workout, doing it before can reduce the amount of strength you can produce. Dynamic stretching is great as a warm up, but I don't know of any studies that show it increases ROM for the long-term. Doesn't mean it doesn't, however. Anecdotally, I have seen very good functional ROM increases from dynamic stretching.

Dynamic stretching has really helped me in my warm up.

Static stretches after training or even some SMF while the muscles are warm would be good.

what is everyone's take on isometric stretching?

Originally Posted by ABLQ2

what is everyone's take on isometric stretching?

Isn't that the same thing as static stretching?

I'm with these other guys. If you look at my warm-ups, you will see that I implement dynamic flexibility stuff before my workouts and static stretching afterward.

isometric is :

"Isometric stretching is a type of static stretching (meaning it does not use motion) which involves the resistance of muscle groups through isometric contractions (tensing) of the stretched muscles (see section Types of Muscle Contractions). The use of isometric stretching is one of the fastest ways to develop increased static-passive flexibility and is much more effective than either passive stretching or active stretching alone. Isometric stretches also help to develop strength in the "tensed" muscles (which helps to develop static-active flexibility), and seems to decrease the amount of pain usually associated with stretching.

The most common ways to provide the needed resistance for an isometric stretch are to apply resistance manually to one's own limbs, to have a partner apply the resistance, or to use an apparatus such as a wall (or the floor) to provide resistance.

An example of manual resistance would be holding onto the ball of your foot to keep it from flexing while you are using the muscles of your calf to try and straighten your instep so that the toes are pointed.

An example of using a partner to provide resistance would be having a partner hold your leg up high (and keep it there) while you attempt to force your leg back down to the ground.

An example of using the wall to provide resistance would be the well known "push-the-wall" calf-stretch where you are actively attempting to move the wall (even though you know you can't). "

Interesting. I don't know too much about it, although I assume guidelines would be fairly similar to other forms of stretching.

that is basically what a static stretch is.

"Static stretching involves holding a position. That is, you stretch to the farthest point and hold the stretch ..."

the difference is tensing the muscles that your stretching. Im asking if that makes any difference.

what you are describing is kind of like PNF stretching (which is very good!).

where did you get that description from? Can you site the source?

http://www.bath.ac.uk/~masrjb/Stretch/stretching_4.html