Stretching before any workout?

Question

I know nothing about working out at home or in the gym. I'm just starting...if I want to start slow and work out in the house (I know its important in the gym)...do I need to stretch in anyway before I do things like push-ups or sit-ups etc?

Answer 1

wrong most people think to stretch before you work out so you dont pull anything but actually after you work out your muscles tighten and thats why they are hard so you should actually stretch after you workout and everyday take five mins out your time at night to stretch it helps you sleep and wake up without being tired  

Answer 2

You want to warm up your muscles before and cool them down after any workout, but static stretching (stretch, hold for 30s, release, etc) isn't the best way. Light cardio (~5 minutes at a moderate pace) and dynamic stretching (windmills, torso twists, high knees, butt kicks, etc) are the way to go. Being totally honest, it won't make a *huge* difference in a light home workout, but it does help and is an extremely good habit to get into.

Static stretching temporarily weakens the muscle, lowering your performance in a subsequent workout. It's great for flexibility though, and should be done on off days or after a workout.

Answer 3

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/flexi...

this link will hopefully answer your question.

Answer 4

Absolutely. It'll keep you in top shape while working out and also reduce the chances of pulling a muscle and injuring yourself.

Answer 5

Only stretch AFTER you've done your workout, when the muscles are warmed up.