Stretching ligaments...

**Justme** · Posted On: 1/12/2004 7:47am

As of February, I will be 50. I have always been rather inflexible, and this as been one of the harder areas to achieve significant gains.... I have tried a wide variety of methods... Best success has been with Yoga routines...(PNF also was good)... Anyhow to the point, at my age can you still stretch a ligament? Or should I just concentrate on breaking down the mucsle with wieght work and then stretching it statically. I always save my stretching for the end of my workout.....

**Justme** · Posted On: 1/12/2004 7:58am

Thanks Edge.

**KageReaper** · Posted On: 1/12/2004 8:05am

I read your not suppose to strech ligaments, at least not too far....something about them not being able to strech far.

**Haksaeng** · Posted On: 1/12/2004 6:41pm

I haven't read your link Edge, but after skimming, I am sure it answers most questions.

I do want to comment on the original posted question. KageReaper is correct. Ligaments are not stretched. If you pull on a ligament you pull it, sprain it, or tear it. Flexibility is entirely muscle elongation.

Make sure you are well hydrated and don't violently bounce into your stretches. That is a common cause of injury. Good luck!

**Haksaeng** · Posted On: 1/12/2004 6:47pm

Actually, here is an excellent document (sorta long winded and dry) but quite comprehensive and extremily helpful. I'll put it up on the following link:

http://www.anaruk.com/bullshido/stretching.pdf

if it's a broke link try back in 5 min.

**Jenfucius** · Posted On: 1/12/2004 9:06pm

i've heard that ligaments can become longer if slowly stretched over a period of months, but that they will revert back to their original length quite rapidly if not maintained.

**mikus** · Posted On: 1/13/2004 11:45pm

Wouldn't that make you hyperflexible and contribute to dislocations and whatnot? I'm very skinny and my upper body is very flexible, and I have problems with my shoulders popping out of their sockets. If it happens another one or two times I'll probably have to have surgery. You don't want to be TOO flexible. I'm currently doing physical therapy to try to prevent it by gaining bulk in my shoulder area and lessening the flexibility of it (to a certain extent).