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Stretching
your muscular potential
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.
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