Comments on: Should You Stretch Before Training?

By: afromuscle

afromuscle — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:53:21 +0000

Yup, my Olympic Weightlifting coach is vehemently opposed to static stretches before the beginning of the session. Instead we go dynamic stretches like high kicks and we also warm up by actually doing the movement i.e. squatting with an empty bar.

Good to see you’re helping to spread factual training advice!! If only more people understood how bad all that stretching affects their performance they’d leave it till the end.

Cheers,

Dennis

By: Louis D

Louis D — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:24:16 +0000

Any thoughts on stretching antagonistic muscles pre-workout? I personally like a bit of hip flexor work before squats. Haven’t noticed an effect on strength but find it helps me reaching a decent depth.

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:28:06 +0000

@Richard @Franz @Miltos Stretching after the workout is fine
@Scotti. Firstly, cardio is optional on TSPA so just leave it out. There are no jumping or bouncing movements in TSPA either. You can find substitutes for any pulling movements in my Exercise Bank or just omit them and work the rest of your body. So yes you can succeed on TSPA.
@Mike. Thanks, bud.

By: Mike Huber

Mike Huber — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:59:51 +0000

So True. Stopped stretching a couple years ago when I first started following MuscleHack @ the weight gains in lifting were impressive!! Good Info Mark Man!!!

By: Scotti

Scotti — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:49:08 +0000

I have had several motorcycle accidents and a bout with bone cancer-I have many replacement parts including knees-toe joints-wrist-1 shoulder-2 fingers fused-ect…
i want to order 6 pack abs but can not do hard/jumping/bouncing/pulling movements due to the above factors.
i have started working out again-ck your site weekly-and have been getting back in shape thanks to your info.
My question is-are all workouts in the sixpack abs simple ? I have cked out/seen others but they are to stressful for my body to complete. Are there different workouts included if one can not do certain ones ??
THANK YOU for your free site info. It has helped my many times over.

By: Miltos

Miltos — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:04:22 +0000

It sounds unbelievable Mark! What about post workout stretch?

By: franz

franz — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:14:33 +0000

Thanks Mark! I was always too lazy to stretch anyway lol

Anything on when would it be best to stretch so it DOESN’T interfere with muscle building, or has a positive effect even?
I need to stretch for martial arts so I was wondering if there’s an optimal time for that.
Thanks again!

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:57:44 +0000

Thanks for update.
I’m always fighting the non-believers with more ‘evidence-based’ reasoning from your website.

Is post-workout stretch also ineffective? With the muscles fatigued and full of micro damage, not sure pulling the strands apart is a good idea….?

By: Robert T.

Robert T. — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:33:53 +0000

Good advice as always Mark. Thanks!