Any stretching benefits?

[RAiMA]

Just wondering if there's any benefits in stretching on rest days to keep the muscles limber, or will it effect the repair cycle?

[GetFit]

Reduced muscle tension
Injury prevention
Increased range of movement in the joints
Enhanced muscular coordination
Increased circulation of the blood to various parts of the body
Increased energy levels
Stretching can releave stress
Stretching promotes better posture

[wnxmaximus]

Originally Posted by RAiMA

Just wondering if there's any benefits in stretching on rest days to keep the muscles limber, or will it effect the repair cycle?

Yes it will affect repair, it will happen faster.

[Matt58]

Does ice also help with the recovery? I'll tend to ice my body parts I just hit after a workout, almost always ice after leg days.

[GetFit]

Yeah ice helps prevent inflamation after workout out, I use ice baths after big back workouts.

[HammerTech]

I know a few guys here who do ice cold showers too after workouts...it helps.

[Mrbobcat]

I was reading in one of the bodybuilding mags (so you have to take it with a grain of salt), that you can widen your lats by stretching them intensly everyday (while still working them your usual once or twice a week). Has anyone ever tried this? If so, I wonder how much stretching is necessary and what stretches to do? I usually only stretch whatever I trained that day for a few seconds at the end of my routine...

[NPayette]

Originally Posted by Mrbobcat

I was reading in one of the bodybuilding mags (so you have to take it with a grain of salt), that you can widen your lats by stretching them intensly everyday (while still working them your usual once or twice a week). Has anyone ever tried this? If so, I wonder how much stretching is necessary and what stretches to do? I usually only stretch whatever I trained that day for a few seconds at the end of my routine...

Yeah but you would need to create a pump before and stretch it INTENSIVELY. It's called fascia stretchning look it up.

[hrpiii]

Originally Posted by HammerTech

I know a few guys here who do ice cold showers too after workouts...it helps.

that was because of those hot, fitness chicks working out in the gym. It had nothing to do with THEIR workout.

[HammerTech]

Originally Posted by hrpiii

that was because of those hot, fitness chicks working out in the gym. It had nothing to do with THEIR workout.

Yeah, can imagine the embarassment in walking out of the gym with a 'pump' from that....

[RAiMA]

Thanks for the advice guys. Was just a bit concerned with my muscles still being sore the day after the work out.

[Will100]

Originally Posted by NPayette

Yeah but you would need to create a pump before and stretch it INTENSIVELY. It's called fascia stretchning look it up.

i read a long article written on intensemuscle.com, it makes alot of sense...payette pretty much siad what i was going to..

basically every muscle is wrapped in connective tissue (fascia) and in order for muscles to grow there must be room within the fascia. Thats why when some1 gets big and then stops training the so called "muscle memory" kicks in when the person goes back to the gym after a prolonged period of time (and of course losing muscle) of not going. that person may lose some muscle but the loose connective tissue remains, thus the muscles grow very easily upon restarting a weightlifting routine.

Therefore, after doing your workout routine (when the muscles are warm, thus easily stretched) you stretch to absolute treshhold (it hurts like a fVckin kick to the nuts) for 45-60 secs...some of the stretches can and will bring a tear to your eye. But the results are there. By doing what dante (doggcrapp, DC TRAINING) calls extreme stretching, your allowing your fascia to become loose and ready to accomodate muscle growth, thus your connective tissue is not holding back your muscle growth

and of course like previously mentioned stretching helps tremendously with recovery...but EXTREME stretching will help alot with MUSCLE GROWTH as well...there are some guys on this board who know about DC, such as myself who can answer some questions on the extreme stretches, but if you wanna learn from the direct source go to IntenseMuscle.com - Powered by vBulletin and register and read up about extreme stretches in the DOG POUND forums.

extreme stretches are not for the weak. if ur a pussy ull stop doing them after one workout...due to schedule of school and work im not doing a DC program anymore BUT I STLL DO THE EXTREME STRETCHES...that sh!t is crazy...learn about them, they help alot

[Papasmurf]

Stretching is just as important as lifting. I spend about 30 minutes a day stretch, 3 sessions of 10 minutes each. Makes all the difference in the world.

[NiteHawk]

The only stretching I do is DC extreme stretching after my workout.