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Stretching and Being Pumped
Taken from Variables for Weight Lifting and Exercise © 2003 Anthony Sell - All Rights Reserved
Muscle tissue is composed of strands of the actual muscle fiber, which is surrounded by a band of protective tissue that is banded in groups, surrounded by another layer of tissue. These groups are yet again banded together and surrounded by another layer of tissue.
When the Muscle fiber is put under stress, the body increases the flow of blood to that muscle to provide oxygen and other muscle fuels to the muscle so it can act. It is this increased blood flow that makes the muscle feel as though it is tighter or pumped up, when you workout.
It is at the end of the workout, when you are completely pumped up, that is the best time for stretching. This is the time you can be sure that the muscle is completely warmed up and that there is the least risk of injury. This is the time to push limits of the muscle's flexibility.
At the beginning of the workout, during the warm up, and throughout the rest of the workout, it is important to elongate the muscle, but not greatly. A mild stretch is appropriate for several reasons. First, when you begin to warm up, the body is still cold. Injuries from stretching are most likely to occur here. Second, during the workout, the slight strain that is pit on the muscle during stretching can be amplified into a major strain during the set, especially if the muscle is pushed to its limits in between each set.
Ideally, the stretching that you accomplish when you push your limits will stretch not only the muscle fiber, but also the layers of surrounding tissue. This will in turn allow for greater growth, as the muscle will surpass its natural limitations. 4 Stretching is very important for growth, but is must be done correctly to prevent injury or obstacle.
Effectively, after puberty, your body reaches a limit for growth that can be surpassed, provided that you can use methods of training that will spur growth. The great rate of growth and physical change that occurs during puberty is largely due to the skeletal and hormonal activity during that time.
It is the constant but passive stretch that is being put on the muscles during that period of skeletal growth that allows for such rapid strength change. Furthermore, many of the hormones necessary for muscular growth are flowing rapidly during that period of development. Training and supplement programs can be designed to produce similar types and amounts of stress to the natural phenomenon.