Stretching between Sets?

[Gladiola]

Stretching between sets: good, bad, neither?

Will help you get stronger? Will impede your strength gains?

 

[Gladiola]

One of the BEST things you can do. PERIOD.

Tell the training board that! he he
I didn't have any studies to point to - except one university study I had read about in Fitness magazine (what crap, I don't read it anymore).

I did some searching without much luck, but got a GREAT explanation from my exercise physiologist friend but it's quite long!

 

[Night Fly]

I do it...because it helps my muscles to stay loose when I get that pump while working out. It really helps me going from set to set...

I agree with Lobo...I think it is one of the best things you can do.

 

[Arioch]

I will agree that stretching is essential, but I would caution against a one thing, mainly excessive stretching in between or prior to your sets. Stretching to warm-up and allow you train safely through a full ROM should always be done, but intense stretching can promote brief periods of joint laxity, which can actually increase the risk of injury during heavy resistance training. I actually have some material on this, but it will have to wait until I go into the office tomorrow morning.

Yes, I am somewhat playing devil's advocate here, but people are saying the borad is slow, so . . .

 

[BatZgirl]

RE:

One of the BEST things you can do. PERIOD.

I couldnt agree more

 

[FitFossil]

One of the BEST things you can do. PERIOD.

AND it feels good!

 

[NY Muscle]

i used to feel stretching between sets was good until i read some articles/studies that cautioned that it is actually BAD.

i tend to stretch between sets only when im doing legs though.

if i recall correctly the article said that stretching AFTER you workout is actually ideal and not BEFORE...most do it the other way around.

 

[Gladiola]

i used to feel stretching between sets was good until i read some articles/studies that cautioned that it is actually BAD.

Could you share with us WHY it is bad, or post those articles?

 

[VeggieLifterChick]

Stretching between sets helps loosen up my muscles so that I can go hard again. But I think an equally essential part of lifting is doing a few minutes of light cardio first. (I do 3 minutes on a bike before lifting). I don't remember the technical definitions of why this is good, but I know it helps get muscles warm and my blood pumping.

 

[Bikini Mod]

Isn't it true that one of the benefits of stretching is to stretch the fascia that encases the muscle to allow for growth?