I don`t know about you GR,but I`m assuming since you are certainly no dummy,that as you have gotten older that you more than likely do many or at least much more warm up sets than you did when you were younger.
It helps bigtime......I still go as heavy as I can for the reps I`m gunning for,but I make damn sure I do plenty of specific warm up sets first.
BYW,you are looking great brother......NO HOMO.
Wes, thank you... Yup, these days I stretch, use bands, do more light sets, etc.
Back in the day it would be one light set, and off we go..
I have been lucky in 45 yrs of training (injury wise) except for the last 2 yrs. Hoping its behind me.
My back issues are not training related, so I dont count those. (Slight curve at base of spine causes disc herniation, nerve pinching, etc.).
Even as a kid, so not related to training, just flares up when I do something stupid... Mainly my shoulder (only) is a life-long injury related thing.
I also remember doing damage early on as a kid, trying to throw as hard as possible for baseball. (So I may have fucked it up royally there instead).
All my issues can be non-training related. It just happens to aggravate them on occasion...