Once there was a time when stretching prior to a workout was seen as mandatory for peak performance and injury prevention. My how times have changed.
In the last 5 or 6 years, an ever-increasing pile of studies have shown that the warm-up ritual of stretching prior to and during strength training, will impair performance. Stretching prior to high contractile force activity (such as weight training) impairs neurological efficiency and the ability to maximally recruit all fibers.
Stretching is important as it improves elasticity of connective tissue and increases range of motion in joints. Just make sure you don’t do your stretching close to resistance exercise.
Source: J Strength & Conditioning Research, 2008.
