How Important Is Stretching?

[TheMyth]

How important is stretching for getting a better physique and adding more muscle? Does stretching help mold your muscles into a beter look?

[workitforme]

Originally posted by TheMyth
How important is stretching for getting a better physique and adding more muscle? Does stretching help mold your muscles into a beter look?

i dont know if it will give you a better physique but it sure makes me feel better. i hate have a tight lower back or hamstrings...

[Big4ever]

I feel better and get a better work out with little stretching. I do stretch but not like everyone else does.

[Gator_Mclusky]

I know its important but i dont do it as much as i shuld....

[mtex]

there is an article in the articles forum on "how stretching can promote muscle growth". but there is another article that says stretching before a work out does nothing for injury PREVENTION.
IMO i think stretching can promote muscle growth but may not help too much in injury prevention ( stretching prior to work out).
I do beleive warm ups help you perform better & AID TO PREVENT injury. once your muscle is pumped w/ some blood it will perform better (stronger)

[Jandy]

http://www.fitstep.com/Library/Info/Stretching1.htm

I am for sure trying the calf stretching principal when I begin bulking again

[mac83]

i love it. i'm constantly stretching...especially my flexors in my forearm...otherwise my workouts become shit. for some reason my forearms get really fucked up if i dont stretch them somewhat often

[workitforme]

i was just reading a mens health they did a study with novice lifters and also with advanced lifters who saw 20% strenght gains if they streched 30s between sets ... hmm, i cant remember the exact issue but ill try and post it tomorrow...

[Spook]

Stretching is good even if you dont' go to the gym. Stretching can prevent or reduce injury in some situations such as accidents. Gym accidents that create injury usually involve something that flexibility will not help you prevent. However, day to day routine accidents can detour from injury if you are a flexible person. Stretching the muscle fascia is very good and can accomodate more growth potential, but it also helps the ligaments and tendons as well so that the muscle doesn't outgrow the connective tissue tolerances, especially while using gear. Another thing that I had read somewhere but forgot where I read it is that stretching can induce the release of natural IGF-1 into the local areas that are being stretched to create growth just as if a person was using GH and slin (maybe not as well, but better than nothing).

[barnes3]

Always stretch warm muscles.. never cold ones... you could possibly tear something. Also do static stretching where you hold the stretch for 10-60 sec for 3 different times for each muscle. This has been found to be the best stretching overall. There are other forms of stretching, but none as effective as static.

I always stretch after my workouts are completed, usually takes me a good 5-10 mins to stretch all my muscles everytime. You will also be able to stretch them farther after they are warm than if they were cold.

peace