30 Seconds SummaryCan stretching directly cause muscle growth?
- Stretching's effects on muscle growth are nuanced; it can hinder or promote growth depending on timing, intensity, and duration.
- Training through a full range of motion, particularly at long muscle lengths, is more effective for muscle growth than partial ranges.
- The concept of 'stretch-mediated hypertrophy' suggests that muscle tension in a stretched position may enhance growth more than in a shortened position.
- However, direct evidence that stretching alone can cause muscle hypertrophy in humans is limited, with only a few studies partially supporting this.
- A new proof-of-concept study found substantial hypertrophy in legs subjected to intense, long-duration stretching, using an orthotic device for an hour daily over six weeks, suggesting potential for stretch-mediated hypertrophy.
- The study also demonstrated increases in dynamic strength and flexibility, adding credibility to the potential of stretching for muscle growth and conditioning.
- Further research is needed to explore the effects on different muscles and to determine optimal stretching parameters for muscle growth.
Stronger By Science
Greg Nuckols
