Mobility and aging gracefully are among Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s top concerns at 78. In a recent Arnold’s Pump Club newsletter on March 15, 2026, he weighs in on whether stretching routines are necessary. He stressed that resistance training can improve joint flexibility on its own.
As a seven-time Mr. Olympia champion, Schwarzenegger proved himself against titans of the Men’s Open class, including Sergio Oliva, Franco Columbu, and Frank Zane. Though he doesn’t boast the same physique he presented on stage, Schwarzenegger still looks after his fitness and longevity.
Having recovered from a recent heart surgery, Schwarzenegger understands movement is medicine. This led him to unpack the value of stretching, and whether a bout of resistance training is all you need to keep the joints and ligaments running smoothly.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Talks Stretching Routines & Why Lifters May Be Getting Flexibility Benefits From Workouts
In the newsletter, Schwarzenegger examined stretching studies and found that resistance training can improve joint flexibility on its own.
“Do You Actually Need a Stretching Routine? Here’s What 36 Studies Say
For decades, the conventional wisdom was that strength training and flexibility were a trade-off. You want to move better? Put down the weights and go stretch. It was repeated so often that most lifters either added a dedicated stretching routine out of obligation or quietly accepted that tightness was the cost of getting stronger.”
“A meta-analysis of 36 studies found that resistance training, on its own, improves joint flexibility.”
He noted that high-intensity training protocols had greater flexibility improvements compared to other workout modalities.
“Researchers analyzed data from nearly 1,500 adults across nine academic databases, looking specifically at resistance training as an isolated intervention (no stretching programs mixed in) lasting at least four weeks.”
“High-intensity protocols drove the biggest flexibility improvements, while low-intensity training showed a smaller, less reliable effect. Rest time between sets also mattered, with longer rest periods associated with better flexibility outcomes.”
In addition, Schwarzenegger shared that moving through a full range of motion under load gradually increases the muscles’ tolerance to stretch.
“It might sound surprising, but moving a joint through its full range of motion under load — the thing that makes a deep squat or a controlled Romanian deadlift feel different from a partial rep — gradually increases your muscle’s tolerance to stretch.
“The tension doesn’t make you tighter; done properly, it teaches the tissue to accept more length.”
While he admits research doesn’t argue against stretching, he believes resistance training can drive greater flexibility.
“To be clear, the research is not arguing against stretching. You might experience benefits, feel better, or just enjoy it as part of the routine. The research suggests that lifting through the full range of motion does more for your mobility than you may have realized, and that stretching isn’t necessary to improve flexibility.
If you’re already training with good form and reasonable intensity, you’re likely getting a flexibility benefit as a bonus. If you want to amplify it, focus on the full range of motion with each rep rather than cutting reps short.”
Schwarzenegger is keen on staying fit and healthy for as long as possible. As for nutrition and supplementation, he argues that fiber intake is crucial. He pointed to a massive study that suggested eating more fiber can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer.
For those who don’t regularly stretch, don’t sweat it. Schwarzenegger believes resistance training can improve mobility as long as you maintain a full range of motion.
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