Why Bodybuilders Should Stretch at He's Fit

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Why Bodybuilders Should Stretch

Posted January 3, 2008 at 04:00 PM by Jamal Walker

Section: His Fitness, Strength Training, Injuries & Rehab

bodybuilder back What many guys don’t realize is that some of the most flexible athletes around are not the gymnists or the hockey goalies. Rather, they’re body builders. Body builders have excellent range of motion, which is a prerequisite for excelling at their skill. You can incorporate some of what the experts know and do into your workout to get better results. One of the best times to stretch is after a workout such as lifting weights. A recent article I read by Brad Appleton did a good job of explaining exactly what goes on and in explaining why bodybuilders should stretch. Here’s what Brad explained.

After you’re done lifting, your muscles are fatigued. Static stretching after lifting will help you not only by increasing your flexibility, but also by enhancing muscle growth and will actually decreasing the level of post-exercise soreness that you experience.

After lifting to overload and fatigue your muscles, your muscles retain a “pump” and are shortened somewhat. This “shortening” is due mostly to the repetition of intense muscle activity that often only takes the muscle through part of its full range of motion.

This “pump” makes the muscle appear bigger. The “pumped” muscle is also full of lactic acid and other by-products from exhaustive exercise. If the muscle is not stretched afterward, it will retain this decreased range of motion (it sort of “forgets” how to make itself as long as it could) and the buildup of lactic acid will cause post-exercise soreness.

Static stretching of the “pumped” muscle helps it to become “looser”, and to “remember” its full range of movement. It also helps to remove lactic acid and other waste-products from the muscle. While it is true that stretching the “pumped” muscle will make it appear visibly smaller, it does not decrease the muscle’s size or inhibit muscle growth. It merely reduces the “tightness” (contraction) of the muscles so that they do not “bulge” as much.

Sport-fitness-advisor.com has a comprehensive list of static stretches and how to perform them. Take a look, and try adding them into your routine after you’re done lifting. It could help you see better results.

Research sources and for more information: [cmcrossroads.com]; [picture]