Sporadic extra stretches during day?

[Seb]

I do PNF/isometric like 3 times a week, and like 3 times a week I do relaxed ones, not reatching as faras with PNF of course but I guess they help a bit anyway maybe.
Some dynamic kicks/raises most of the stretching days.

I dont gain much more flexibility anymore, and specially cold flexibility doesn't seem to improve a bit, even if I can go further warmed-up than a few months ago, cold flexibility doesn't seem to have improved a bit.


My question is if its ok to do some unplanned stretches, maybe if I watch TV I could sit down on the floor and do a hamstring or groin stretch for a minute or so....just stretch it out a bit with no warm-up.

Is that ok, will every small stretch help, or will unplanned short stretches like that only ruin the results since you learn the body "no further than this"?

Does anyone KNOW?

Thanks :)

[tsuchinoko]

ah yeah I think you're overdoing it. So many people ask this exact same thing.
There are two ways to improve:

1. Get rid of isometric and dynamic stretches for 2/3 weeks, you don't need them yet.
Do 3x12 squats and sumo squats. Afterwards finish by doing relaxed stretches
After the 2 or 3 weeks you will be strong enough to do isometrics

2.Warm up really well, then stretch. Hold the stretch 3x60 seconds.
Stretching isn't hard, and do them how YOU feel!!

[Seb]

But the isometrics make me go way further. Just slowly pushing it doesn't get very far, while as soon as you tense the muscles you can advance real fast in the stretch (doesn't seem to work at all for groins but hamstrings works great).

Anyway, since I dont gain much even though I've stretched for months, I thought maybe sporadic stretches when I have some time over could add a little....maybe not then?


And as another question, are you supposed to gain cold flexibility by regular warmed-up stretching?

[Seb]

Also I AM really skinny and weak, even though I train strength since a while ago but haven't done much leg. I guess lack of muscles really can limit stretching, but I'm not sure...its something some people say and others dont know and some doesn't think so :D

[Spekk]

I am Running 3 times a week more a less 15 min ... to gain stamina and some muscles in my legs, to prepare myself for isometrics ....i also do 2x 20 squats ....then stretching static and dynamic.
This, cause i got both front splits, but the sidesplits is "battling" with me ...but im gonna win xD

And the other days i have Capoeira training .

[tsuchinoko]

Also I AM really skinny and weak, even though I train strength since a while ago but haven't done much leg. I guess lack of muscles really can limit stretching, but I'm not sure...its something some people say and others dont know and some doesn't think so :D

If you're legs are too weak, then isometrics won't really help you at all. Gain enough strength like I said, and then you can begin isometric stretching

[Seb]

If you're legs are too weak, then isometrics won't really help you at all. Gain enough strength like I said, and then you can begin isometric stretching
Well, depends on what isometric really means.
If it includes tense/relax to get deeper in the stretch, or if its only called isometric/PNF if you in the final position keep some tension for 30-60 sec.

[Ashtar]

With sporadic stuff you usually aren't very warmed up, so dynamic stuff maybe? The less warmup, the less hardcore you should go, especially when you don't know what you'll doing next (like fight off a mugger)

[Jackamaideshwang]

He's overdoing it aye? I'm doing pretty much the exact same thing as Seb, except I was doing light squats (broken arm) for a few weeks before I started stretching. Cold flexibility seems to be worse, and my muscles usually feel tight/a bit sore. Been stretching almost everyday for 2 months. The physio had me doing exercises to regain mobility in my arm every 2 hours, and it made it improve a fair bit, it seems this could greatly increase cold flexibility - only temporarily though :(

So in answer to your question, if you are sitting around all day in a chair with hamstrings in a shortened position, they will want to stay that way unless fully warmed up and stretched out. If you are constantly walking around and bending down to pick up money, your hamstrings will be maximally flexible because you are constantly actively stretching them- they will never get cold or shortened.

[Ashtar]

Hm, actually bending down to pick up money is a passive stretch, gravity pulls them down. An active stretch is using the antagonists (hip flexors, quads) to stretch it. They pulse lightly during passive stretches, and work harder with leg lifts and situps.

[Jackamaideshwang]

Ah indeed, it was a bad choice of words - like "i'm going to 'actively' help the environment this year". It almost sounded like I knew more than I did.
The same principle still applies, you just have to keep your muscles warm and lengthened to get more cold flexibility in my opinion.
The dude walking around picking up money might have increased cold flexibility though, say after he gets out of bed and starts his day picking up money, maybe there could be some neuromuscular facilitation going on that would allow him to go nearer to his maximal stretch without a large warmup?

[Graber]

Man wich are better for six pack: push ups or crunches ? WHat are the benefits of push ups.

[Papa Lazarou]

Neither is particularly good for getting a six pack. Read the training and conditioning sub-forum, Graber.

[Ashtar]

Manwich are better

For six pack: push ups or crunches? What are the benefits of push ups?Crunches are isotonic, pushups are isometric, for the abs. Both kinds of exercise help the ab muscles. Both can be weighted. In terms of building overall muscle for fat loss to help reveal the ab muscles, my guess is the pushups since they look to recruit more of the body to work. Pushups will work the triceps, pecs, ant delt, and a bit of hip flexor/quad.

Some writeups also say the back but I think that's bull.

[MBD]

I stretch cold, no warm-up. It's been working fine for me. Everything but static passive; that goes at the end of my workouts.

EDIT: I don't jump in and do my max right away, nor do I do ballistic. I take it slow.

[Ashtar]

Static-passive is the one that requires warmups the most, generally. It's more common to do static-active cold (because it's not like you'll reach any serious RoM with it anyway, if it's truly a static-active) as well as dynamic-active. Due to the 'active' they tend to be their own warmups so long as you don't try to go max right away, which as you've stated you don't.

[Gaisn]

So hypothetically, if I were to on a day I'm not training just randomly "sit" in a static-passive stretch for half an hour here and there while reading or watching TV or whatever, I wouldn't be doing anything productive? Is it better than nothing, or is there no point at all without a warmup?

Just curious here, I understand the benefits of warming up first.

[Jackamaideshwang]

I'd have to say it would be productive, in terms of maintaining a high level of cold flexibility throughout the day. I dont think it would work too well in gaining a great deal I of flexibility, unless you combined it with some kind of activity.

[Ashtar]

Gaisn that'd probably be productive since you're getting used to it. Jack's right that it's more maintenance-oriented. At the same time, stretching that long, it's sort of difficult to remain 'cold'. You can warm up for a stretch using the stretch itself, it's just that it defeats the purpose of making it safer via warming up with something else less extreme.

[Martial Way]

Dynamic stretching is what I do at my job. It seems to be the safest to do when not warmed up initially. I guess I would say that doesn't do a lot to improve flexibility but if you don't have time to train then it keeps you from getting too tight.

[Gaisn]

Thanks Ashtar and Jack, I've been wondering that for a while.
Now, for the most uncomfortable four hours of Street Fighter IV ever.
:nerd:

[Ashtar]

Dynamic stretching is what I do at my job. It seems to be the safest to do when not warmed up initially. I guess I would say that doesn't do a lot to improve flexibility but if you don't have time to train then it keeps you from getting too tight.
Hmm... maybe, dynamic could get ballistic though, just as relaxed passive stretching isn't bad as long as you're not trying to surpass limits. More than dynamic, it's the active aspect which is safer (especially static-active).

[Graber]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W5cuQmntQM Man check this fucking shit out lol.
Thas shit man if they do it like that.

[Hez]

what the fuck.

that was one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen.

poor little bugger : (

[Surge!]

That guy was a pussy.

[Kitosho]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W5cuQmntQM Man check this fucking shit out lol.
Thas shit man if they do it like that.





FUCK YOU, GRABER

[Graber]

No man fuck you. Go back and flash your head in the toilet.

[Hez]

Flash(kick) yourned head into a toilet!

EDIT: 'into toilet' sorry

[Martial Way]

I wonder if he could still have kids after that. My master told me a few years ago thats how they would stretch people out so they could get them to do the splits.

[Ashtar]

For some reason when I first played that movie it zoomed by in fast-motion, not sure why. Also yes: you can have children after this. The pain is in the hip muscles, not actually the balls itself. It is true that you can place a lot of pressure on them (but then, he's so young, have they even descended yet?) but considering how many people bounce back from getting kicked there, a portion of your bodyweight isn't really that bad. Hell, I purposefully put weight on the whole package because it feels pleasant when you work up to it.