Stretching your muscular potential by Panos During a weight-training session, what do you do between sets? If you are like most people-you relax, talk to friends or maybe even check out a member of the opposite sex. While these activities might help you to waste the time, they do little to improve your physique. You should realize that your time in the gym is precious. If you really want to maximize your genetic potential, your actions must be dedicated to making optimal use of every training moment. One of the best ways to make productive use of your rest intervals is to utilize a method called selective muscular stretching. Although many people regard stretching only as a means to increase flexibility, it can provide a multitude of muscular benefits when incorporated into your routine. In fact stretching a pumped muscle can enhance the quality of your workouts and help to promote muscular growth. Let’s take a look at the benefits afforded by this practical technique. *Reduced lactic acid build up Nothing sabotages a workout more than the build up of lactic acid in your muscles. Lactic acid is a waste by-product of Apothem primary source of energy used to fuel your muscles during anaerobic exercise (weight-training). It’s responsible for the burning sensation that accompanies intense training and eventually prevents your ability to achieve a muscular contraction. In simple words, once it builds up you simply cannot train any longer. Stretching helps to neutralize the negative effects of lactic acid by restoring blood flow to your working muscles. It provides an outlet to flush metabolic waste from your body, affording rapid regeneration of your muscular capacity. *Better muscular recovery Contrary to popular belief, muscle tissue is actually broken down, not built up during a weight training session. This kind of damage contributes to the presence of delayed-onset muscle soreness that often accompanies a gruelling workout. However, by adapting stretching exercises you can repair muscle tissue and accelerate the healing process. Therefore, there is less post-exercise fatigue and diminished muscle soreness. The result is better recuperation between workouts, allowing you to come back strong for your next training session. *Increased range of motion During weight training concentric repetitions cause your muscle to shorten. Over time they can adapt to this reduced length, restricting their range of motion. This limitation decreases the amount of force you are able to generate in your contractions and therefore compromising any muscular gains. Stretching exercises help to counteract these adverse effects, elongating your muscles to pre-exercise levels. You maintain greater elasticity in your joints and connective tissue, facilitating your ability to work though a full range of motions. Moreover, since your body is more flexible, you are less likely to exceed its stress barriers, reducing the possibility of an unpleasant injury.