Should i stretch sore muscles reddit

You’re getting out of the car after a long drive, or up from your computer after a stressful workday, and there it is—that tight, achy feeling in your neck.

Stretches to relieve soreness in legs

Your first instinct is to pull your head toward your shoulder, trying to lengthen your stiff, sore muscles.

We’ve all been told stretching is a great way to keep your body loose and limber and ward off any potential achy tightness.

But does doing it when you’re already hurting actually help you—or are there better ways to soothe the soreness instead? We tapped physical therapists, sports medicine doctors, and strength coaches to break it all down.

The answer depends, in part, on why your muscles hurt in the first place.

To know whether stretching sore muscles could benefit you, it helps to understand what’s behind that ache, board-certified sports physical therapist Leada Malek, DPT, CSCS, author of the book Science of Stretch, tells SELF.

There are three things to keep in mind:

• Your muscles might be weak.
• Your range of motion might be restricted due to chronic tightness.
• Your muscles may have been (micro)damaged due
  should you stretch sore muscles after lifting
  should you stretch sore muscles after workout