stretching hurts

**heatherswar** · 09-03-2010 01:02 PM

So I have been told from numerous sources stretching is the key to not being as sore after working out and also for not so bulky leaner muscles. My problem is it hurts when I try to stretch and I can't hold a stretching position for very long so I end up not stretching at all. Any tips on What I'm doing wrong and how to improve my stretching?? Thanks!!

**Beautiful Disaster** · 09-03-2010 01:18 PM

One of two things:

You're either not stretching correctly

or

You're extremely tight and inflexible.

I'm going to guess it's more the latter. And if so, it's going to take some patience. The muscles,tendons, joints have to be trained to stretch and the only way to do that is to do it frequently. Instead of pushing the stretch to the point of it hurting so bad you can't hold it, ease up a bit to a point where you CAN hold the stretch and then once you establish that, stretch a little farther.

Be sure that you are NEVER bouncing when stretching. Do not hyperextend your knees or your arms. Just ease yourself into some basic stretches until you become comfortable with it, and slowly increase the stretch gradually and before you know it you'll be stretching way farther than you thought you could.

**sourpuss** · 09-03-2010 01:43 PM

Make sure you're good and warmed up before stretching too. That always helps me.

**heatherswar** · 09-03-2010 01:57 PM

Thank You! I normally do the treadmill before weight training then do a little more on the treadmill after weight training. Should I stretch before the treadmill or before weight training? Then after also?