Should you ever stretch during your strength training workout?

Yes! Stretching in between or right after strength sets can help build strength and muscle more efficiently. To be effective, the stretch must focus on the muscle that was just worked, and not be pushed too far into the stretch.

Hi Keli. “Ever?” My answer would be that I try not to speak in absolutes about most things in exercise and fitness because there are usually exceptions. So I would say that there may be times when you’d want to stretch (I’m assuming you’re speaking of static stretching correct?) during a strength workout.

LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com

Hi Kelli,

I leave it up to my clients. It’s not something I often ask from my clients to do during their workouts, but if they need/feel to stretch then I don’t oppose it.

Best,
Harris
www.sophofit.com

If you must
I base my decisions on the need at the moment

If I feel I need to stretch I will, if I see my client is fatiguing or wants a rest, we will do some light stretching.

This fits in the category of knowing your body, your limitations and needs.

Hi Kelli

I like LaRue’s answer.

If you are working with someone in the weight room presumably you have done some preliminary work to determine their static alignment and determined whether there are some misalignments or chronic imbalances. Depending on what you see when you look at the static base, and then how motion generates through the whole kinetic chain you may find that some stretching is warranted in particular areas.

That is why I like LaRue’s answer“. genetics and life history and fitness level all vary so much. How you might approach someone with a functional scoliosis will be somewhat different than how you would approach someone with no injury history and years of strength training.

As well to say ‘stretching’ is like saying ‘should you ever eat carbohydrates?’ That is a big category. There are huge differences between say PNF and static stretching, or myofascial release, and times and people where one or another may be helpful.