stretching and warming up

Post by **toad857** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:51 pm

do you do it? what are your favorite climbing stretches?

Post by **Andrew** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:56 pm

Don't stretch before muscle intensive workouts, you will lose muscle performance. Just warm up properly. Stretch when finished.

Post by **caribe** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:31 pm

Climbing requires range of motion. Stretch to get it. When you stretch, you work muscle 1 against muscle 2. When you work muscles they get tired and lose strength. This does not mean that stretching is bad for performance. I think a combo of stretching and warming up is best to optimize performance. Climbing stiff is likely not optimum. This is MHO. I am no expert in this area.

Post by **512OW** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:19 am

In gymnastics, we warmed up for 30 minutes, stretched for an hour... and THEN got to work. I wish I had the patience to do that now.

Post by **512OW** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:23 am

However, Andrew is correct. There have been recent studies that suggest explosive movements can be hindered by stretching pre performance. So if you're a boulderer, lot of stretching might make a little bit of a difference. If its noticeable, maybe you should learn some technique.

Post by **45percent** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:04 am

512OW wrote:If its noticeable, maybe you should learn some technique.

Learning technique takes time. Changing how I stretch makes me think I'm climbing better now.

I find myself stretching my forearms just before starting to climb. I don't really know why; it's just become part of my pre-climb ritual.

Post by **Crankmas** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:24 pm

I've heard that as you age you should stretch to maintain the flexibility you have and you shouldn't delude yourself that you can gain but only maintain-

Post by **trog** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:26 pm

Crankmas wrote:I've heard that as you age you should stretch to maintain the flexibility you have and you shouldn't delude yourself that you can gain but only maintain-

don't crush my old man delusions, please!
i am really, really gonna send this year

Post by **der uber** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:41 pm

512OW wrote:There have been recent studies that suggest explosive movements can be hindered by stretching pre performance.

I have read this as well. Something to the effect that it can weaken the muscle for up to an hour after a hard stretch. Consider stretching after climbing, stretch on off days, and/or just stretch lightly as you warm up. I bet it doesn't make a significant difference if you stretch beforehand, and if you like how you feel after stretching then by all means keep doing it.

Post by **Crankmas** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:18 pm

trog- stretching and sending are two separate things- your future is still yours bro- send away and be sure to spray