stretching

[Donny]

This is a subject i want to touch on. I believe most of us should do more, sure stiff deads and other exercises stretch us to a point but do you think this enough?. I am guilty myself of not enough stretching because i used to do a lot..but i am feeling a bit tight and now i have started to stretch my main muscles(as you should before a workout). I was active in martial arts and i know you need it but as a 45 year old i admit i was getting lazy..thoughts on this  

[WOOO]

i stretch for 15 minutes every morning after i do my 45 minutes of cardio... i lift in the evenings

[wes]

I`ve been telling myself for years that starting next Monday,I`1m gonna` start stretching.

That being said,next Monday I`m gonna` start stretching! 

I`m like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz...........oil,I need oil!  LOL 

[WOOO]

yeah...  i hate it... but my elbows have never felt so good

[wes]

I stretch a little bit,but I`m far from consistant......real far! 

[Donny]

well last night i went for it and as i got up this morning i really felt better in my lower back and Hamstring area. I mean just a few basic stretches made a real diffrence. 

[WOOO]

I also bought one of those hard rollers that you can massage your legs and back on. Fricken amazing.

[Donny]

I also bought one of those hard rollers that you can massage your legs and back on. Fricken amazing.

If it works then it works .

[WOOO]

If it works then it works .

works really well... kinda painful at first but now i look forward to it

[wild willie]

I like to perform a little stretching in between sets.

[Voland]

stretch after your lifting session. 5-10mins tops.

[tgsaku]

I believe it is common practice to incorporate both dynamic stretching/mobility work as well as activation movements through a complete range of motion pre workout. Then move to something harder post workout such as static stretching/PNF or other heavy isometric stretches. There is research on both sides of the fence as it pertains to pre workout stretching but I think most experts agree nowadays that static and iso work weakens can weaken muscles when done before heavy lifts.

An example for a lower body training session might be something along the lines of:
high kicks-20-25 per leg
bottom position squats (with bodyweight) sit in bottom position and use elbows to push out on the knees for 2 sec at a time x10
bird dogs and/or some other dynamic hip movement that adequately utilizes a good range of motion for the hips x 20 per side
walking lunges/side lunges-10-15 per side

I have started incorporating this more regularly since starting o-lifting and I can tell you that it is had a very positive impact on my squats. Also doing some static stretching at night helps me to relax and sleep better whereas I used to toss and turn a lot more.