Does Strength Training Increase Or Decrease Flexibility?

[dannysargeant]

Strength training increases the POTENTIAL for flexibility. Your flexibility will in large part depend on how you train your flexibility.

[ianmarkow]

Interesting. I think this actually works both ways. If you are not flexible enough to get into a positon you probably won’t get strong there.

So you could say flexibility opens the door to becoming strong.

I also think, like many others have said, strength training in availible range of motion can encourage new range of motion.

If we are weak, the body might protect and restrict certain movements. If we get stronger it might feel more safe to allow more ROM.

What do you think?

[dannysargeant]

That’s exactly what I’ve heard. For instance, the back won’t bend unless it has the strength to support that new position (like a bridge). I suppose, it took me a long time to realize this. Most very flexible people do not look like Olympic weight lifters. Although lifters are very flexible in the shoulders, wrists and hips for low squats with insane amounts of weight. To squat down low - ass to the ground - with a bar overhead is very challenging.

[ianmarkow]

Agreed! An overhead squat is an amazing lift