After almost a year of daily workouts I had to take the month of June off completly due to some changes in my work schedule. I started back up on July 1st, back doing the same routine I was doing before (Scott's PPL split with some Cheat and Recover thrown in). I've noticed since I've started back that I have this almost uncontrollable urge to stretch my muscles almost constantly. It's mostly my chest, back, and biceps but it feels like my body constantly wants me to stretch.

At first I thought it was just because I'd gotten out of the daily habit, when I started on the 1st I started lighter than what I'd been doing before to build back up for the gains I'd lost, but it's been every day since. I've had some DOMs, nothing out of the ordinary, mostly what I'd experience if I switched routines or pushed it extra hard, but other than that I'm doing the exact same thing I was doing before.

Has anyone else experienced this? I've tried to research it online but can't seem to find anything. A gym friend said it probably had something to do with the muscle fascia but I haven't been able to find anything online to support that either. Maybe I'm lacking something in my diet?

Hey Trey,

Sounds to me like you're unconsciously aware of when your body's needing to be stretched. I wouldn't worry, as a matter of fact I would take FULL ADVANTAGE of this. DOMS is typically a circumstance where you develope it during overtraining, so make sure you're being aware of the intensities in your training and not taking yourself too far (of which it sounds like you're doing so).

If your body is giving you an urge to stretch, do so! Most people have the opposite problem. Take advantage of mobility drills as well and don't just limit it to static stretching - try and stretch your muscles through dynamc movement too!

Hey Treyplus20,

The way I see it, the Cheat & Recover is overloading your muscles like crazy. I've gotten that same sensation from heavy rack pulls above the knee and weighted stretching exercises. I wouldn't worry about it if it isn't impeding your ability to recover or contributing to injuries. Keep focusing on getting stronger and stretch if necessary. As long as it isn't a "bad" pain, you're all good in my eyes. Hope this helps!

I agree with @Aron_Buzzell, I don't think it's a bad thing at all, and it's probably going to be good for you to have an urge to stretch to keep yourself mobile!'

What it might be is just your muscles feel extra tight after not training for so long. When you get the blood flowing and a pump during your workout, it will last for a little bit afterwards and it might be that tight sensation making you feel like you need to stretch to loosen up.