[Closed] Stiffness (exercise content)

Do you stretch after a ride? If not there's your trouble.

what does stretching do lifer?

I sometimes stretch, sometimes not, but that makes no difference to stiffness. I hardly ever feel like this, but it's the first long-ish ride I've done since changing my diet.

iDave - Member
what does stretching do lifer?

Stops me getting stiff the next day, cycling, football, climbing anything. If I don't I am if I do I'm not that's as far as my knowledge goes!

I blame that iDave diet, or age, or something else
But generally I concur.

careful lifer
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🙂

What causes stiffness?

You really want me to answer that? 😐

Let's not start talking about Sammie Louise again please Yeti.

dehydration?

THats a guess

Molly is it not photo day today?

Was your ride any harder/more intense/longer than normal - harder rides make me feel stiff (despite an hour of stretching/yoga 6 days a week!) but not generally not sore (only weights will make me hurt the day after but oddly i'm not stiff after weights, go figure).

Was your post ride recovery ok/different, enough food etc in?

Other factors could be dehdyration - i'm noticeable more tight with my ongoing hydration issues 😡

Edit:

the first long-ish ride I've done since changing my diet

What causes stiffness?

Molly is it not photo day today?

I told Mol he's not allowed to post pics of me and my gorgeousness on STW- too many jealous men would end up at our doors...

What causes stiffness?

Bravohotel8er's housemate by the sound of things.

Lol 🙂

Yeti it is photo day yes. Will take some this evening 🙂 Trying to decide if I should start a new thread or resurrect the old one.

Hydration and food both possibles. Was bonkers hungry last night 🙁

MrsGrips - I can give him my e-mail so he can send them direct?
I'll send some back, they'll be good'ns 🙂

Just actually having done a hard ride. If your legs have been pushed more than usual they will take longer to recover.

Not warming down enough to get latic acid out of legs.

Not hydrated enough

Not slept enough

Not stretching enough (but to me that would be tightness in legs)

Ooookay enough of that you two!

Swapping home made porn on the internet.. Dear me.

Not sure I want you at the door Yeti- unless you babysit and other nanny-like duties???

There you go then - just your muscles being used more/differently than normal and adapting/recovering/reparing the micro tears from it

It was under three hours, not exactly an epic and it's not like I'm not used to it. First long ride since changing diet ie this last 5 weeks or so. Although to be fair I've not done much long for 6 months. Still, I'd not have thought I'd lose 10 years worth of ability to deal with long rides so quickly, based on past experience.

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stiffness-exercise-content#post-2490393 ]Told you.[/url]

Sounds very much like DOMS (Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness)- the etiology is somewhat unclear with 6 main theories been proposed: micro tissue damage, muscle spasm, latic acid, enzyme efflux, connective tissue, and tissue fluid theories. Stretching before and after physical activity most likely does not appreciably reduce all-injury risk but probably reduces the risk of some injuries, and it could help reduce the risk of bothersome soreness from DOMS.

First long ride *since changing diet* ie this last 5 weeks or so.

<whistling a merry tune> what diet did you change to? </whistling a merry tune> 😀

SbZ in discounting all possible variables shock 🙄

Maybe you could tell us why a change in diet might cause muscle stiffness, or are you just hoping it might be the cause?

I'd trade 6kg of lard for some temporary stiffness, SbZ. Plus it's not the diet's fault if I didn't drink enough carbs 🙂

I rather suspect I was under-fuelled and hydrated, but I'm quite curious to know why that might lead to stiffness.

iDave - it's your diet mate. You tell me why it wouldnt.

Maybe you could tell us why a change in diet might cause muscle stiffness, or are you just hoping it might be the cause?

SbZ- I didn't say it did or it didn't. There are numerous possible causes, you jumped on the one that suits you. I asked what made you make that assumption?

I didnt assume anything. I merely asked molgrips what diet he'd changed to.

You seem a little bit defensive here.

Cold bath works for me. I did a race sunday and was cramping towards the latter stages of it.

Sat in a cold bath covering my legs with ice in for 5 minutes.

My legs felt fine monday morning

I didnt assume anything. I merely asked molgrips what diet he'd changed to.

You seem a little bit defensive here.

A warm-down helps for me. But I don't bother as I like the pain. It makes me feel like I've done something.

Do people not just live with stiff aching legs day in day out - or is that just me?

I hurt most days.

I hardly ever ache. I put that down to Torq recovery drink 🙂

I merely asked molgrips what diet he'd changed to

Whilst knowing full well the answer...

I'm into rock climbing too, advice from my osteo: warming up helps you get the maximum range/strength from your muscles. Hydration and electrolytes are key for during the activity (obviously pre activity energy in the form of appropriate food), post activity gentle stretching is required to relax the muscles. They contract after being heavily exercised and thus feel stiff, there is also a certain amount of intra-muscular energy store in skeletal muscles. If this is depleted recovery and strength will be significantly prolonged.

Pre ride: eat well, be hydrated, warm up (stretch if necessary)
During: eat appropriately, stay hydrated (add electrolytes if exercise is 2hr+ish)
Post: eat a lowish fat carb rich something with a little protein (banana and a snickers will do) within 20 mins of stopping, stretch to warm down and replace fluids lost in exercise.

There is a certain amount of ache which is normal and indicates that you have simply exercised, there is a further level which is typical of the above not being done or excessive exertion (you could do the above but really push yourself; your muscles have a limit!).

Some of this has been said above, I wanted to put it into context with the activity in a pre, during, post format. Excuse the formality; I'm writing a lot of assignments at the moment (outdoor adventurous activities).

Hope that helps 😉

toby1 - Member
Do people not just live with stiff aching legs day in day out - or is that just me?

Not when a quick warm down means I can ride the next day with no problems.

V stiff on Monday morning after Sunday's ride, still a little today.

What causes stiffness?

I hardly ever ache. I put that down to Torq recovery drink

?

TD - I have not been drinking the drink because I left my stash at home.

Resurrect an old post, but try the skins recovery clothing. Discovered them at the tail end of my rugby days, in combination with ice baths helps reduce the next day tightness. From my laymen understanding its all based on the RICE injury treatment, which I guess makes sense.