Stretching?

[Physicsmazz]

Am I doing myself a huge injustice by not stretching after working out. Every now and then I'll do about 2 minutes of static stretching afterwards, but generally I just finish lifting, hit the shower and head to work.

Mazz

[John Izzo]

See if you can bring your arm behind you and try to touch your shoulder blade (without bending over at the waist). If you can't perform this test then, yes, you are doing yourself a injustice.

[Physicsmazz]

reaching over my shoulder is tough, but I can do it. Reaching under is no problem. I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing because I don't see how bending at the waist would help any.

Thanks.

[Marykaa]

When I've worked real hard on weights.. I find it's better to only stretch a little to relax the muscles.. and if I want to stretch to gain flexibility it's better to do it at some other time.. cause I tend to not read my muscles well enough after a hard work-out and tend to hurt myself stretching.

[Physicsmazz]

Originally Posted by Marykaa

When I've worked real hard on weights.. I find it's better to only stretch a little to relax the muscles.. and if I want to stretch to gain flexibility it's better to do it at some other time.. cause I tend to not read my muscles well enough after a hard work-out and tend to hurt myself stretching.

Thanks for the input. My flexiblibly has never been great and I'm not really worried about getting more flexible.

[sean]

Originally Posted by Physicsmazz

Thanks for the input. My flexiblibly has never been great and I'm not really worried about getting more flexible.

This is a trap, be careful.

As time wears on, there's a farily good chance(it's a lock, right?) you are simply going to become less and less mobile. You are going to keep training the same way(chances are you are doing some things wrong) and the things you are improperly executing in your lifts are slowly but surely adding up with every single rep you execute.

The odd thing is, you'll feel fine and otherwise be functional while your body adapts around the dysfunction(s).

At some point, your body will longer be able to adapt to the creeping dysfunction and you will find yourself in pain, either chronic or acute.

hint, its *much* easier to maintain proper function and mobility with just a few minutes of work pre/post workout now than it is to restore if after you have hosed yourself, please trust me on this point.

If you neglect stretching and moblity(and adequate strength throughout that range of mobility), you are doing yourself a massive disservice in the long run.

[Marykaa]

SEAN.. I totally agree.. and was thinking all that exactly.. just didn't know how to put it. Good job.

[sean]

Originally Posted by Marykaa

SEAN.. I totally agree.. and was thinking all that exactly.. just didn't know how to put it. Good job.

Thanks Mary.

Even as I re-read it, I think I am confusing the issue even more.

The question was just about "stretching", it wasn't really about mobility and proper function. Stretching itself is just a little piece of the pie.

My post could easily be read as stretching = less injury, which I don't think there is any evidence of being true, depending on how/when the stretching is done.

I think the important point that is kind of buried in there is the quality of how you train(if you have poor form) can not be helped merely by stretching and bad form is really what drives injury when weight training.

I also think mobility, and adequate strength to support that mobility, combined with good form is the key to staying injury/pain free and having high function.

Getting injured while weight training is stupid, its non-contact and can be planned and prepared for to the nth degree. But most of us hurt ourselves over time with poor(or just not perfect) form executed over and over again...

Or, even if form is perfect on every rep of every set, some of will get nailed with overuse...

It's to complicated for me to get my head around to be honest with you

[Marykaa]

and I was sort of thinking more on the long term mobility issue.. I only really got into weights less than a year ago.. so I keep forgetting that good range of motion in lifting can be enough .. I see alot of people my age with less and less flexability.. and life is much more enjoyable when we can move easily

[sean]

Originally Posted by Marykaa

and I was sort of thinking more on the long term mobility issue.. I only really got into weights less than a year ago.. so I keep forgetting that good range of motion in lifting can be enough .. I see alot of people my age with less and less flexability.. and life is much more enjoyable when we can move easily

Absolutely!

[jax]

Anyone ever check out "Relax into Stretch : Instant Flexibility Through Mastering Muscle Tension "?

Someone recommended it to me today and I was looking for any opinions

http://www.amazon.com/Relax-into-Str...tellafriend-20

[jdford]

Jax, I haven't heard anything about that particular book but it's a Tsatsouline book so I'd trust it. The strength coach at York has reccomended "Facilitated Stretching".

http://www.amazon.com/Facilitated-St...8772416&sr=1-1

[goldwave84]

Try Dynamic stretching before working out. I do static stretching in the evenings, before I shower.