‘Too much’ stretching

Goldenrod

Goldenrod

Well-known member
Staff member
Will post what works for me but please keep in mind I’m late 40’s and beat myself up with weights and kickboxing.
I use to stretch to the point of pain and I did it so I could kick higher and have the flexibility for more complex kicks. And no, I’m not decadick trying to brag - I don’t want to punch or kick anyone and I’m sure you could all kick my ass. My point is this - I learned to stretch like this and it doesn't work for me anymore.
I can easily hurt myself stretching to extremes. I am rehabbing injuries and making progress. I have a log running and will update it shortly but 20-30 minutes of stretching everyday and holding the stretch until my body easily lets me pull farther works, usually 20-30 seconds. Forcing it doesn’t.

I suppose this is common sense but we don’t always follow common sense. Just something to think about.
GR
 
Goldenrod said:
Will post what works for me but please keep in mind I’m late 40’s and beat myself up with weights and kickboxing.
I use to stretch to the point of pain and I did it so I could kick higher and have the flexibility for more complex kicks. And no, I’m not decadick trying to brag - I don’t want to punch or kick anyone and I’m sure you could all kick my ass. My point is this - I learned to stretch like this and it doesn't work for me anymore.
I can easily hurt myself stretching to extremes. I am rehabbing injuries and making progress. I have a log running and will update it shortly but 20-30 minutes of stretching everyday and holding the stretch until my body easily lets me pull farther works, usually 20-30 seconds. Forcing it doesn’t.

I suppose this is common sense but we don’t always follow common sense. Just something to think about.
GR
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You probably timed your stretching wrong like the majority of Martial Artists out there did at one time. The only stretches you should be doing early in the workout are of the dynamic type, which I did after my warm-up of footwork and shadow-boxing. Then the body of the workout that lasted forever at times and then and only then came the static stretches. You will find the body more responsive to stretching if done at the end of the workout, and then slide it right into your cooldown. You have to remember the amount of static stretch you can do is not necessarily the gauge as to how high or explosively you can kick.
Check out Thomas Kurz's books, mainly his Stretching Scientifically, and Science of Sports Training.
 
Bagua said:
You probably timed your stretching wrong like the majority of Martial Artists out there did at one time. The only stretches you should be doing early in the workout are of the dynamic type, which I did after my warm-up of footwork and shadow-boxing. Then the body of the workout that lasted forever at times and then and only then came the static stretches. You will find the body more responsive to stretching if done at the end of the workout, and then slide it right into your cooldown. You have to remember the amount of static stretch you can do is not l the gauge as to how high or explosively you can kick.
Check out Thomas Kurz's books, mainly his Stretching Scientifically, and Science of Sports Training.
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thank you Bagua
 
What about lifting heavy? I do all my stretching at the end of my workout, having read somewhere that stretching beforehand can fatigue your muscles and result in lower weights in your lifts. Could be bro science, but seems to work for me.
 
vancitybb said:
What about lifting heavy? I do all my stretching at the end of my workout, having read somewhere that stretching beforehand can fatigue your muscles and result in lower weights in your lifts. Could be bro science, but seems to work for me.
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I read the Bulgarian power lifters did the exact same.
 
Goldenrod said:
I read the Bulgarian power lifters did the exact same.
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Their logic if I recall correct was stretching may ‘loosen’ something before getting under heavy weight, I could be getting this wrong as it was 20 - 25 years ago.
 
stan efferding goes even further. he said before competitions, they would warm up with partial reps to keep their muscles tight. not going to try it myself.
@Bagua
ive been preaching this for years. one of many fitness myths that wont die. a lot of people dont even know the difference between stretching and warming up.
@Goldenrod
my first sports injury was from this nonsense. a groin injury from intense stretching in martial arts in my teens. which led to a imbalance in my gait, which led to an unbalance in my lower back, which led to a shoulder injury.
 
zenmonky said:
stan efferding goes even further. he said before competitions, they would warm up with partial reps to keep their muscles tight. not going to try it myself.
@Bagua
ive been preaching this for years. one of many fitness myths that wont die. a lot of people dont even know the difference between stretching and warming up.
@Goldenrod
my first sports injury was from this nonsense. a groin injury from intense stretching in martial arts in my teens. which led to a imbalance in my gait, which led to an unbalance in my lower back, which led to a shoulder injury.
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I hear ya, I’m convinced my Achilles’ tendon injuries attributed to my right knee injury somehow. Just like my left rib/chest injury had a part in my left bicep injury.
 
Goldenrod said:
I hear ya, I’m convinced my Achilles’ tendon injuries attributed to my right knee injury somehow. Just like my left rib/chest injury had a part in my left bicep injury.
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I can almost guarantee you there is a link. My tendon blew shortly after I had the knee replaced on that side. Too much limping and favouring that side. Although the tendons have been bothering me chronically for years getting back into the swing of sticks and punches with the pivots did it in.
 
Bagua said:
I can almost guarantee you there is a link. My tendon blew shortly after I had the knee replaced on that side. Too much limping and favouring that side. Although the tendons have been bothering me chronically for years getting back into the swing of sticks and punches with the pivots did it in.
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How long were on crutches when your Achilles went?
 
Goldenrod said:
How long were on crutches when your Achilles went?
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Wheelchair for four weeks. Then in a boot for another eight weeks if I recollect correctly. I had three wedges in the heel of the boot and took one out every two weeks and then walked with the boot for a couple of weeks before I could use a regular shoe. It wasn't a painful recovery, nor was the injury painful, but it was a long-drawn-out process to recover. As soon as I was in the boot, I started to use an old Bullworker a couple of times a day, and when I was down to two wedges, I began to work my upper body. My doc was awesome.
It's something I strongly advise against.
 
Goldenrod said:
Will post what works for me but please keep in mind I’m late 40’s and beat myself up with weights and kickboxing.
I use to stretch to the point of pain and I did it so I could kick higher and have the flexibility for more complex kicks. And no, I’m not decadick trying to brag - I don’t want to punch or kick anyone and I’m sure you could all kick my ass. My point is this - I learned to stretch like this and it doesn't work for me anymore.
I can easily hurt myself stretching to extremes. I am rehabbing injuries and making progress. I have a log running and will update it shortly but 20-30 minutes of stretching everyday and holding the stretch until my body easily lets me pull farther works, usually 20-30 seconds. Forcing it doesn’t.

I suppose this is common sense but we don’t always follow common sense. Just something to think about.
GR
Click to expand...

I will say this.
When I tore my knee out,
My surgeon told me that I am prone to injury because of my flexibility (He is an orthopedic surgeon for the leafs.)
I used to do the same thing, stretch hard before Muay Thai or boxing.
Messed myself up badly enough that I havnt even touched my gloves for probably 7 years.
Stretch after you're toasty.
Stretch lightly after your heavy lifts.
Warm ups are good enough for things like deadlifts.
 
Agreed - I always do a warm up now even if just 10 minutes and then stretch before and after workouts.
Thanks for the info
 
silentlemon1011 said:
I will say this.
When I tore my knee out,
My surgeon told me that I am prone to injury because of my flexibility (He is an orthopedic surgeon for the leafs.)
I used to do the same thing, stretch hard before Muay Thai or boxing.
Messed myself up badly enough that I havnt even touched my gloves for probably 7 years.
Stretch after you're toasty.
Stretch lightly after your heavy lifts.
Warm ups are good enough for things like deadlifts.
Click to expand...

Rick Zarnett? If so he is an asshole.
 
Bagua said:
Rick Zarnett? If so he is an asshole.
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Lol yup
At Cleveland Clinics in Scotia Plaza downtown.
And yes, he is an asshole.
Starting ripping on my knee to check it...
Actually popped it out of its socket, took everything I had to not jack his jaw.
 
silentlemon1011 said:
Lol yup
At Cleveland Clinics in Scotia Plaza downtown.
And yes, he is an asshole.
Starting ripping on my knee to check it...
Actually popped it out of its socket, took everything I had to not jack his jaw.
Click to expand...

He and Dr. Clarefield used to work out of the same Clinic at Davisville and Yonge if I recall correctly. Both are jerks, and both worked with the Leafs for quite a while. My first knee injury would have gone so much better if those two idiots weren't involved. They hesitated way too long for the surgery and the extra wear and tear on my knee contributed to an arthritic buildup.
I went back to Zarnett for my second knee injury because I could get in to see him in a week after my injury and he was a total jerk until I went into an appointment with a T-shirt from an organization he knew and he realized I knew some of his friends. Dipstick treated me like gold after that.
He told me to lay off Martial Arts, and I couldn't help but laugh in his face. Man, that was 25 years ago.
The orthos I have now are great.
 
Bagua said:
He and Dr. Clarefield used to work out of the same Clinic at Davisville and Yonge if I recall correctly. Both are jerks, and both worked with the Leafs for quite a while. My first knee injury would have gone so much better if those two idiots weren't involved. They hesitated way too long for the surgery and the extra wear and tear on my knee contributed to an arthritic buildup.
I went back to Zarnett for my second knee injury because I could get in to see him in a week after my injury and he was a total jerk until I went into an appointment with a T-shirt from an organization he knew and he realized I knew some of his friends. Dipstick treated me like gold after that.
He told me to lay off Martial Arts, and I couldn't help but laugh in his face. Man, that was 25 years ago.
The orthos I have now are great.
Click to expand...

He wanted to pull the trigger on surgery.

I got a second and third opinion.
The other surgeons suggested that I do Not go into immediate surgery.
On account of living too active a lifestyle (Bodybuilding, Boxing, Thai boxing and I was a carpenter at the time)
Basically I would wear out my new knee in a few years and would need a new one.
That was 7 years ago, still rocking the natty knee.

Hurts like hell and my squats are stuck where they are.
But I can walk and train
Doc that referred me was Doctor Chugh,
sports medicine and concussion specialist.
Same guy who didnt bother to tell me that I had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis for three years after my blood work showed it.

Gotta love OHIP, but our system is a mess.
 
silentlemon1011 said:
He wanted to pull the trigger on surgery.

I got a second and third opinion.
The other surgeons suggested that I do Not go into immediate surgery.
On account of living too active a lifestyle (Bodybuilding, Boxing, Thai boxing and I was a carpenter at the time)
Basically I would wear out my new knee in a few years and would need a new one.
That was 7 years ago, still rocking the natty knee.

Hurts like hell and my squats are stuck where they are.
But I can walk and train
Doc that referred me was Doctor Chugh,
sports medicine and concussion specialist.
Same guy who didnt bother to tell me that I had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis for three years after my blood work showed it.

Gotta love OHIP, but our system is a mess.
Click to expand...

Having worked within the system for the last thirty years or so I can somewhat agree, but I have also seen some pretty remarkable things happen especially with Sick Kids and the University Health Network.
I always tell people the moment they are involved with the system make sure you access yours or your loved one's records and be ready to advocate for yourself.
 
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