Team – I know stretching these days is frowned upon but I like stretching. Is it bad to keep doing it?
Do you like it or do you need it?
Your answer there will guide you. If you don’t need it, if there isn’t some kind of benefit then why are you doing it?
Stretching isn’t 100% bad. Foam rolling isn’t 100% bad. There are very few, if any, absolutes in strength training. But, whatever you do, it needs to be for a purpose and for a specific benefit, not just because you like it.
DD said it best, but I am going to go further – you DON’T need it. Â Mobility is a function of the nervous system more than the physical soft tissue state. Â Altering the nervous system, will have a large effect on tissue mechanics. Â If you feel the need to stretch, you aren’t warming up enough, or effectively. Â Perhaps if you provided more information, we could assist you in tailoring a warm-up to your needs. Â 10/20/Life provides an extensive amount of info on warm-ups and movements you can use.
Depends on what you mean as stretching. Are you getting warm and then putting a leg out and touching your toes for a sec, or are you holding it for 10 seconds? Stay far away from a long static stretch if you’re gonna be moving heavy weight. If you feel like lengthening the muscle for a moment actually adds to your lifts then go ahead and just be gentle. The idea is to get warm, prevent injury and increase strength, not just stretch because it’s what you’ve always done…. and save any serious stretching for post workout when the muscles are warm.
