Stretching before working out is bad?

[renegadecz]

This is from aol.com. It is called Fitness myths debunked: Myth #1 is called Stretching is essential and here is what it says: Research shows that stretching before exercise actually increases your chance of getting injured and may decrease your workout performance. According to Wyche, the best way to prepare your body for physical activity is with a 3-5 minute warm up of easy walking, light cycling or gentle movement.

Source: http://body.aol.com/fitness/myths-debunked

Is this true???

[Flex500]

Originally Posted by renegadecz

This is from aol.com. It is called Fitness myths debunked: Myth #1 is called Stretching is essential and here is what it says: Research shows that stretching before exercise actually increases your chance of getting injured and may decrease your workout performance. According to Wyche, the best way to prepare your body for physical activity is with a 3-5 minute warm up of easy walking, light cycling or gentle movement.

Source: http://body.aol.com/fitness/myths-debunked

Is this true???

yes, multiple clinical studies have shown that stretching can limit peak strength and performance. The best way to warm up is a sport/activity specific warm up. Like squatting light before the heavy sets, benching light before the heavy sets etc.

There is a marked decease in strength when stretching is done preworkout. The best time to stretch is after the workout.

Again, that doesn't mean to not warmup. A good thorough warmup is essential.

[Guardian]

Ive always had good results by doing a warm up set and then stretching before my main set.

[amgdoc]

Stretching for 30sec+ tends to relax the muscle....which will be bad since you are trying to workout.

[tarun_s]

do what works for you. its a common belief that dynamic stretching and pnf stretching while working out can temporarily increase your strength.

[stealth_swimmer]

Originally Posted by Guardian

Ive always had good results by doing a warm up set and then stretching before my main set.

x2

Stretching before a workout can weaken you and leave you open to injury, but stretching lightly AFTER a good warm-up, and gradually more as the workout progresses, is a good idea as it helps clear out a little lactic acid and also prevents the achy feeling you get in you muscles from time to time. It also helps you get a better pump.

[mightymouse37]

Originally Posted by Flex500

There is a marked decease in strength when stretching is done preworkout.

Um, no. The largest decrease I've ever seen reported in any study was about 3% total strength. Not something to worry about unless you're a powerlifter or O-lifter. [I do agree with everything else in your post, though]


Stretching pre-workout without WARMING UP first [ie, 5-10 minutes on treadmill] can be dangerous, since it's much easier to pull/tear a 'cold' muscle vs. a 'warm' one.

I've been stretching pre- AND post-workout for years and never had any problems.

[Hard Drive]

For most people, excessive stretching before a workout is bad.
Lunges and other dynamic stretches are good.

Personally, I stretch before my workout and during my workout.
I also take one day a month and superset every upperbody day with a lower body stretching day, it's slowly working my into splits and I'm seeing more width to my glutes because I'm stretching my medial heads out a lot.

[HulkHagen]

I don't stretch very often at all. Usually, before the "big" lifts I will do a really lightweight warm up set before I really get going.

[swordsmanzenn]

i will always stretch before my w/o. i will not risk a muscle injury because i wanted to add 10lbs to my bench. a torn pec or hamstring can end it all folks.

[akpinup]

NEVER STRETCH A COLD MUSCLE!!! It will rip it.
Always do light jogging, cycling (depending what muscles your working that day) then do a 5 minute stretching session.

[Flex500]

Originally Posted by swordsmanzenn

i will always stretch before my w/o. i will not risk a muscle injury because i wanted to add 10lbs to my bench. a torn pec or hamstring can end it all folks.

but are you risking injury MORE by stretching preworkout? That is the more interesting quesiton to me.

I personally believe you are safer and better off doing a sport/activity specific throrough warmup before the activity and maybe some very light stretching before hand rather than intense stretching.

There is a good study that will hopefully get published that was recently done at the ohio state university about this topic. I am convinced not only does intense stretching reduce strength and performance but it can cause injury pre workout or pre activity.

The problem is most people don't know how to warm up. I don't get on a treadmill and I don't stretch pre workout but I'd bet I get a better warm up than almost everyone here. For example pre squat warm up..........

bodyweight squats*20
135*12
135*12
225*12
with walking bodyweight lunges in between each set.

Then the working sets begin...