Warm Up or Stretch First Before You Workout?

by Answer is Fitness on January 28, 2010

Contrary to what some believe muscle stretching should not be the first thing you do prior to starting your workout. Do a light cardio warm up instead - Warm up first with a 5-10 minutes of walking, cycling, etc., and then stretch. You can also do stretching exercises at the end of your full cardio workout.

Stretching cold muscles (not warmed up) can cause or lead to injuries. There is also some research indicating that a lot of excess stretching can cause a short-term reduction in muscle strength. Therefore those doing weight (strength) training should save the serious stretching for after the workout is over. Remember, be smart about making sure you are warmed up.