Personal Strength Coach

Your in home and on site personal strength coach. Helping you reach your goals by providing strength training, flexibility, sports performance, and speed training.

Stretching Prior to Lifting Reduces Force Production

Yes, this is true. Most studies that I read state that stretching a muscle prior to a maximal lift will reduce the force production 2-5%. Keep in mind that these studies also have a subject perform a stretch for a specified amount of time and then immediately go perform a maximal lift. 

Here's how I train my athletes without reducing force production.

1. I don't PNF or AIS stretch them on testing or maximal effort days.

2. We alternate dynamic warm up days with PNF days.

3. When we PNF stretch, I don't immediately have them perform a maximal lift. Generally, after we stretch, we go through a movement prep period and then progress towards they're daily percentage.