Lift Like This If You Want To Be Flexible

Mobility coach Liv Townsend gives us the insider info of how resistance training can make people stiffer or more flexible, and how to ensure it’s the latter!

All the way

Contrary to popular belief, muscle growth does not inherently reduce flexibility: hypertrophy increases the size of existing muscle fibers, and the processes that drive muscle growth do not require muscles to become shorter.

Also, post-workout stiffness is temporary. Hard strength training can cause inflammation, muscle recovery, and increased nervous-system protection, which can make you feel stiff for a day or two. This does not necessarily mean you are becoming less flexible.

This means that the real problem, and the manner in which resistance training can reduce flexibility, is not what most people think it is; the reality is that progressively increasing the load while allowing your movement to become shallower can gradually reduce the range you’re training—and with it, your flexibility.

In contrast, full-range strength training can improve flexibility! This is because controlled resistance training through a full, comfortable range of motion can even produce greater flexibility improvements than traditional stretching, as your body adapts to the ranges of motion you repeatedly train.

For more on all of this plus some demonstrations of resistance exercises with a full range of motion to improve whole-body flexibility, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

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Take care!