Stretching Before Weight Training ?
Monday, December 12, 2005
Don't stretch before your workout!
Pre-exercise stretching has been considered mandatory ritual in many sports for more than 100 years. Until recently, most exercise books advised people to stretch thoroughly before exercise to prevent injury and improve performance. However, many recent studies found that pre-exercise stretching decreases muscle strength and impairs powerful movements, such as jumping. Louisiana State University researchers, led by Arnold Nelson, found that pre-exercise stretching also impairs muscle strength-endurance (the ability to perform repeated repetitions of a movement requiring strength). Muscle strength-endurance is important when performing repeated weight training sets and during activities such as wrestling, downhill skiing and rowing. Warm up by doing whole body movements similar to those of the intended activity. Stretch after exercise when the muscles are warm.
Source: Muscular Development (September 2005, page 96)
PS: While most people stretch before exercise because they think it'll reduce the risk of injury, most studies show that it's not necessary.
Pre-exercise stretching has been considered mandatory ritual in many sports for more than 100 years. Until recently, most exercise books advised people to stretch thoroughly before exercise to prevent injury and improve performance. However, many recent studies found that pre-exercise stretching decreases muscle strength and impairs powerful movements, such as jumping. Louisiana State University researchers, led by Arnold Nelson, found that pre-exercise stretching also impairs muscle strength-endurance (the ability to perform repeated repetitions of a movement requiring strength). Muscle strength-endurance is important when performing repeated weight training sets and during activities such as wrestling, downhill skiing and rowing. Warm up by doing whole body movements similar to those of the intended activity. Stretch after exercise when the muscles are warm.
Source: Muscular Development (September 2005, page 96)
PS: While most people stretch before exercise because they think it'll reduce the risk of injury, most studies show that it's not necessary.
