Author Topic: Stretching?  (Read 1020 times)

Offline Il Capo

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Stretching?
« on: February 21, 2010, 05:02:12 PM »
I've been doing mostly strength training and Tabata recently. A few months back I was enrolled in martial arts classes, so I would stretch every other day. These days, though, I have been omitting any stretching from my training. I did some stretching today after a while and found that I am a lot less flexible than I was a few months ago.

I'm not limited on my weight training in any way (i.e. I can do squats with proper form, etc.) but I think I should be more flexible nevertheless.

What do you gals or guys do for stretching? Do you stretch before or after a workout? Or on days off? How often do you need to stretch? Do you also use a foam roll? Any good routines for stretching or rolling?

All ideas will be appreciated.

Thanks.

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Offline Warren Dew

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Re: Stretching?
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2010, 05:47:51 PM »
I stretch after any strength training or anaerobic exercise.  For muscles that I'm trying to make more flexible but not trying to make stronger at the same time, I try to remember to stretch daily; same with when I got tendinitis.

Stretches are different for different muscles.  I try to find stretches that don't require props, or that require only very simple ones.

Offline Wlfdg

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Re: Stretching?
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2010, 06:10:59 PM »
I stretch constantly.

I rarely sit on furniture. I generally sit on the floor even at friends houses.
At home I sit on our futon/bed (VERY FIRM) when I read, watch movies, etc...
I sit on the ground when I'm outside.

I use a piece of 4' x 4" PVC pipe for a roller. I use golf and lacrosse balls for deep release work on myself.
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Offline Il Capo

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Re: Stretching?
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2010, 07:27:01 PM »
Thanks for your inputs, guys. I think I should add some stretching then. Probably a good idea would be to stretch right after Tabata. I'll also try to sit on ground more, although that's not always possible.
Any idiot can get on a treadmill and watch TV and then take great pride in the fact they've exercised.
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Offline Xon

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Re: Stretching?
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2010, 08:22:31 PM »
Personally I believe that if you're doing full-range movements for as much of your body as possible, there isn't really any need to stretch.
Then again, I do martial arts which keeps me bendy anyway...

Offline NutMeg

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Re: Stretching?
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2010, 08:43:12 PM »
The nature of my job causes me to have an appreciation in stretching.

I do mostly good old fashioned static stretching, but for my ITB I use the foam roller (it hurts like heck...lol).

I have very loose ligaments, so I have to be careful not to push too far, but because of the joint laxity my muscle tighten up to try to compensate and splint the joints.   For me gentle prolonged stretching is best.  I do a lot more stretching for my back and neck, and less for my upper extremities (where most of my laxity it).
Meghan
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Offline arthurb999

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Re: Stretching?
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2010, 05:55:32 AM »
I stretch after every workout.  It's a must if you have a desk job.

Offline phrakture

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Re: Stretching?
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2010, 09:07:25 AM »
Thanks for your inputs, guys. I think I should add some stretching then. Probably a good idea would be to stretch right after Tabata. I'll also try to sit on ground more, although that's not always possible.

Maybe look into some yoga. I did it for 2 years and loved it, just need to find a new gym I can go to since I changed jobs. Not all yoga is prissy, calm, "zen" stuff. Ashtanga is very rapid and can be very cardio-intensive.



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Re: Stretching?
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2010, 09:07:25 AM »