Can Stretching Make You Strong? w/ Greg Nuckols

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by Greg Nuckols to discuss whether stretching can make you strong. Greg has an M.A. in exercise and sports science and is the co-founder of Stronger by Science and MacroFactor (the best nutrition app on the market). He’s held three all-time world records in powerlifting, is an international speaker, and is the author of multiple books. He’s also the co-host of the Stronger by Science podcast.

Points of discussion include:

8:50 What is strength?

12:25 When muscles grow in size, is it because individual muscle fibers grow larger (hypertrophy), or is it because we gain more muscle fibers (hyperplasia)?

19:08 What does evidence from animal research suggest about whether stretching can lead to muscle growth?

36:20 What is the current scientific perspective on the mechanism(s) of hypertrophy / muscle growth?

39:22 What is blood flow restriction training?

44:37 Is muscle damage a driver of muscle growth?

50:10 What role does tension play in causing muscle growth?

50:30 The anatomical continuity between muscle, intramuscular connective tissue, tendon, and bone

55:36 The tendency to take a “tension reductionist” point of view on muscle growth / hypertrophy

58:15 What’s the difference between active tension and passive tension in a muscle?

1:05:03 What is the length-tension relationship?

1:12:26 Why does strength training at longer muscle lengths produces greater muscle growth / hypertrophy?

1:20:26 Does research suggest that stretching can lead to muscle growth in the human body?

1:37:28 Do we know what the mechanism is for *why* long duration, intense stretching can cause muscle growth?

1:48:23 Do we have a natural propensity to seek explanations for phenomena even when no science-based explanation exists yet?

…And much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Stronger by Science website (free articles by Greg Nuckols)