Stretch Overload Training


“Using this approach produced the greatest gains in muscle mass ever recorded in an animal or human model of tension-induced overload, up to 334 percent increase in muscle mass with up to a 90 percent increase in fiber number!”


[Antonio and Gonyea. Med Sci Sprts Exerc. 25: 1333-45. (1993)]

Of all aspects of bodybuilding training, stretching is the one part that is most often ignored and misunderstood by the majority gym junkies. It is just one of those things that seems to get pushed off to the side as not that important.

Right now when you think of stretching you probably picture a skinny yoga master twisted up in some funky new age pose…

But that is NOT the type of stretching I’m referring to here.
(“Thank Goodness!” …you say with a sigh of relief…)

Stretch Overload Training, also known as, “Extreme Stretching”, or “Stretching With Weights” is something totally different that will enhance muscle growth from hyperplasia (i.e. muscle-fiber splitting).

Stretch Overload Training will expand the connective tissue and fascia, which surrounds the muscles, and there by enable the muscles to grow bigger and stronger.

The typical static stretches that most people do just won’t cut it.
To increase muscle fiber growth from this technique you have to have kick things up a notch and incorporate Progressive Overload into to your stretching.

Just like you need to have progressive overload built in your strength training workouts or else you’ll plateau very quickly.

The connective tissues that surround the muscles is very tuff and hugs the muscle fibers tight. This can actually constrict expansion and growth. For maximum muscle hypertrophy to occur the surrounding fascia needs to be stretched and become more pliable in order to give the muscle fibers room enough to expand grow bigger.


Stretching With Weights…

Certain exercises stretch out the muscles more then others. In the case of arm training, 2 of the best “stretching exercises” are 90 Degree Angle Dumbbell Preacher Curls for the biceps,
and Overhead Dumbbell Tricep Extensions for the triceps.


Dumbbell Preacher Curls & Dumbbell Tricep Extensions

With these movements you can work your arms through a full range of motion and even get a slight “stretch rebound” out of the bottom position without risking injury. This will help to not only fully stretch and activate more muscle fibers, but it will help to release anabolic hormones inside the muscle tissue.

A lot of the old time bodybuilders instinctively knew that adding stretch exercises into their workouts helped spur on new muscle growth. And even with most of today’s top pro’s they also include Stretch Overload Training as part of their routines to develop that thick full round muscle look.

By including Stretch Overload Exercises in your arm workouts you will literally be able to see noticeable improvement in your muscle fullness within the matter of a few short weeks.

I personally used this Stretch Overload Training Technique in my own workouts to help take one of my weakest bodyparts, my skinny stubborn arms, and turn them into one of my strengths.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg, in the “Blast Your Biceps” program you’ll see how to take this mass building Stretch Overload Technique to the next level, and learn some killer moves that can literally pack a solid inch of muscular mass on your upper arms in the next 30 days!



Blast Your Biceps

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About The Author

leehayward

Lee Hayward is a former competitive bodybuilder and muscle building coach who has been online coaching people since 1997. His work has been featured in several international magazines such as: FLEX, Muscle Insider, Muscle Mag International, Testosterone, Ironmag, and Forbes. Lee's main focus right now is with helping men over 40 - who don't want to be fat anymore - lose the gut, build muscle, and get back in shape. If you're ready to "Start Again" for the last time and finally build a lean healthy body that you can be proud of, just e-mail Lee to discuss a realistic action plan that's right for you... lee@leehayward.com

2 Comments

  • Thanks for the tips Lee. Just a question, could you implement this type of training technique doing static holds in the position where your muscle are stretched out?

  • Static stretching helps as well, but it’s not the same as active stretch. When you do active stretching your get a stretch rebound that helps activate more muscle fibers. This is known as the myotatic reflex. I cover this in more detail in the Blast Your Biceps program, but to give you an idea of how it works just picture a baseball player swinging a bat…

    He will pull the baseball bat back, pre-stretching his muscles, then when he is fully stretched back he’ll rebound and swing the bat forward. This activates a lot more muscle fibers and generates a lot more force than if he just started from the middle and swung the bat forwards.