sretching in the arvo???

[moleman163]

yoo

i know that sretching is most effective in the morning and stuff... but what if im a lazy crap and like to sleep in as much as possible before i have to go to school? ... would stretching in the afternoon also improve my flexibility?

or am i doomed to having to wake up an extra 15 mins early before i go to school?

[Sleepy]

Hasn't the optimum time being found to be 2-4pm or something stupid like that. Who cares what time you stretch. If you stretch, it'll help. If you don't, guess.

[Birch]

Stretching is the most effective after a workout, you will have the most gains then.
And stretching in the morning doesnt really make a difference to stretching later (in relation to gains) but it will make you feel better fo the rest of the morning!!

And your in Brisbane? Tell me moar!

[Papa Lazarou]

Stretching (dynamically) in the morning can 'reset' your muscle length for the rest of the day. i.e., you will be able to kick high without warming up.

The other posts cover everything else.

[Ashtar]

I always heard it was best before bed. Dynamics are for morning I think.

[Papa Lazarou]

Well, ideally you have an hour or two after relaxed stretching to "walk it off" or something. But really, personal preference is probably a more important factor than ideal time of day.

[short gorilla]

If you do not stretch in the morning you will develop arthritis in your hips and your balls will ascend into your abdomen, eventually causing gaids.

[Ghostmb]

True story.

[Trixter]

You're in your flexibility peak in the morning. Use it well, son.

[Papa Lazarou]

Whaaaat?

People generally have stiff muscles when they wake up.

[constantine]

you are supposed to stretch when u wake up, before you go to bed, before and after working out but i dont think anyone does all of them. i stretch before tricking and after. i should probably do more. but i think stretching after a workout is most effective. i heard working out in the morning is best b/c you still use your muscles throught the day.

[Papa Lazarou]

Ok, lets clear this up.

Wake up -> dynamic stretches

Before training -> dynamic stretches (included in the warm-up)

After training -> relaxed stretches (at the end of the cool-down)

If you're not training on a particular day, just do the relaxed stretches directly after the second session of dynamic stretches.


Here's why:

Dynamic stretches are believed to reset the nervous regulation of muscle tension. So, if you do them when you wake up, you'll be able to reach your maximum dynamic range for the rest of the day without warming up.

Dynamic stretches are a good warm-up for training, since they improve coordination, flexibility, blood flow and so on.

Relaxed stretches are most effective after training, as warm and fatigued muscles are easier to stretch. They may also aid the cool-down by returning muscles to their pre-training tension and length.

Relaxed stretches should not be done before training, since they temporarily reduce strength and coordination, can increase pain tolerance, and cause minor (temporary) muscle damage. It's fine to do them in the morning if your training is some hours afterwards (the reductions in strength etc last less than 5 hours).


One good session a day is enough for relaxed stretches, but you can do them more than that if you like.

[constantine]

and thats a wrap

[Ashtar]

Wrap your knees!