I quit stretching before lifting today. Didn’t tear up anything. Does anyone here not stretch before lifting?
In my second week of lighter weights for bigger legs…damn my legs are sore.
I usually don’t stretch and if I do I wait until I’ve warmed up a little. Stretching cold always makes me feel like I’m going to damage something.
Its about getting warm- what works for you.
static stretching isnt the way to go, dynamic warmup with an emphasis on mobility is what works for me.
what works for you might be different.
I need to be warm to push decent weights.
I need to work on hips, shoulders, and neck
every workout- to stay mobile
kmc
I worked out for 34 years without a serious injury. Last September, doing overhead DB presses with 110#, I ripped my tricep. Heard it tear like a piece of cloth and had to have it surgically reattached.
During rehab, I asked the physical therapist why he thought it happened. He asked what type of stretching I normally do. When I replied “none” he just shook his head.
Now I stretch before, after, and sometimes during my workout. I don’t like it, but I do it.
This is a good discussion. Was it Shugart or someone else that mentioned last week that static stretching really only decreases strength immediately after stretching, and doesn’t impact lifting all that much?
And Shugart did cover a lady powerlifter in Texas a few months ago that always stretched before working out.
I hate stretching too, but being the hyooge monster I am, and lifting the monster weights I do, it’s an area of concern for me. I appreciate your comments, Undone. What is everyone else doing?
I dont stretch before my weights, do 12 mins jogg/run, then 2 sets with the bar only, and then i put my plates in… so far its ok.
What i did for 3 years…
I did a light ham, and quad stretch. Rolled my knees,ankles,and hips. Rode a bike for 10 to 16 minutes for heat. Last but not least i did about 15 minutes for stretching. After all this i lifted for an hour, then stretched some more. I have been reading that stretching befor lifting made u anywhere from 5 to 25 percent weaker. It’s like the muscles need to be tight to carry the load…
Whatta ya think?
I do movement work for my joints and some jump rope. From start to finsh it is about 15 minutes total. The Magnificent Mobility DVD on this site has some good warmup ideas.
Static stretching after my workout is become more a part of my program but before it does little or nothing to help.
Most stretching should be avoided before lifting weights as it can result in leaving the muscle in a temporarily weakened state. It’s best to warm up the muscles by working them through the range of motion you’re about to put them through with light load until they’re flush with blood and warm. If anything I wouldn’t ever personally do anything more than very light stretching but then again, I’m not over 35, but this is still what I learned in College. My 2.
“Most stretching should be avoided before lifting weights as it can result in leaving the muscle in a temporarily weakened state. It’s best to warm up the muscles by working them through the range of motion you’re about to put them through with light load until they’re flush with blood and warm. If anything I wouldn’t ever personally do anything more than very light stretching but then again, I’m not over 35, but this is still what I learned in College. My 2”
Makes sense.