What Is the Importance of Stretching?

[gymBum]

hey whats up
For my whole life I have been ridiculously inflexible. Now that I want to start lifting though I thought that it might matter. How important is being flexible and stretching?

Will stretching affect how much I lift or anything else?

[gymBum]

There are many studies being performed to judge when stretching can help your workout and when it can be harmful to the amount that you lift.

[motof]

Becoming more limber will allow you to build more muscle, yes. I would definitely recommend Yoga or something of the like. It is a great cardio work out and helps you get significantly more stretched out than a pre work out stretch.

Peace
-Motof

[AnabolicMofo]

Theres been many contradicting studies about stretching and the benefits, but regardless, it's important that if you are stretching, to do so after you're warmed up. You increase your risk of injury if you just start stretching while your muscles are still cold. If stretching for resistance training, do some light-weight high reps to get the blood flowing before intensely stretching. With cardio, a light jog around the track or a few minutes to warm up will work sufficiently.

[lottalead]

if i do not stretch while i am working out i will pull muscles much easier especially my calves

[Chris]

Stretching has many benefits that are crucial including: correcting muscle imbalances, increasing joint range of motion, decreasing excessive tension of muscles, relieving joint stress, improving the extensibility of the musculotendinous junction, maintaining the functional length of muscles, improving neuromuscular effeciency, and improving function. To me the most important being correcting muscle imbalances, increasing joint range of motion, and improving neuromuscular effeciency.

There are 3 basic types of stretching 1)corrective flexibility 2)active flexibility and 3)functional flexibility. Corrective is used improve muscular imbalances and joint motion, which includes static stretching (what most people consider stretching where you hold a position for an extended period of time) This type is best performed after a workout. Active flexibility is used more to improve the extensibility of soft tissue. And fuctional flexibility does the same thing, but with more neuromuscular control and in a more full range of motion. These last two are the kind of stretching that is good pre-workout to prepare for a lift. I would stay away from static stretching before lifting as it may actually decrease functional strength.

[gymBum]

Originally Posted by Chris

I would stay away from static stretching before lifting as it may actually decrease functional strength.

Great points - will start a new thread comparing pre vs post workout stretching to highlight this info

Pre workout vs Post workout Stretching

[Gal016]

the importance is just that, important....unless you want to strain your quad like I did yesterday, stretch!!! .........or live & learn.

[motof]

which type of stretching is the basic "lean over and touch your toes" stretch?

I am looking to get more limber and want to work on this

Thanks
Motof

[Chris]

Originally Posted by motof

which type of stretching is the basic "lean over and touch your toes" stretch?

I am looking to get more limber and want to work on this

Thanks
Motof

That's called static stretching. Where you hold a stretch without moving for an extended period of time, usually around 30 seconds. It's a form of corrective flexibility as I mentioned earlier & is best performed post-workout.