Hamstring stretches?

xerothermic
xerothermic Posts: 80
in Fitness and Exercise
Getting back to my workout routine puts me in a far better mood than I expected. Now if only I could find a hamstring stretch that works. I've tried every single one I've found on the internet. Seriously. Every. Single. One. I try everything. I'm also quite bendy, but can't seem to make the hamstrings really get a good break. I'd love any advice. If you think you have a good hamstring stretch, I'm willing to try it.

Replies

  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-wiOqYcxoI
  • xerothermic
    xerothermic Posts: 80
    le sigh. I already do that one. My foot almost hits the floor I do it so much. :(
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    le sigh. I already do that one. My foot almost hits the floor I do it so much. :(


    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR_brOI62I8PO3YzlxdTklR35QYm0l0Hd9aH1qNtktUSEyS3pj9

    here you go

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKuxgxTz1A0

    OR

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCE3R0XynTg ...lol check out her face at 3:46
  • xsmilexforxmex
    xsmilexforxmex Posts: 1,216 Member
    So done right either of these should work regardless of how flexible you already are...

    Lay on your back and place either ankle on your opposite leg about mid thigh creating a triangle with your legs (think of a 4 with the top point being your butt and the long part being your opposite leg, the end your knee. Both legs should be bent at the knee.). Keep an arch in your back (lower back off the ground), pull your legs towards you by placing your hands through the triangle and pulling the straight leg fron under the knee. Should feel it more in glutes but I find it helps hamstrings too.

    Start in a runners stretch - one leg straight foward, bent at the knee, foot flat on the ground with heel under knee, other leg on the ground at the knee straight back. Should feel this stretch in back leg/hip flexors. From this position, straighten your front leg without moving it, keep your foot flexed, and bend forward from the hips like you want to touch your chest to your foot. Honestly this position I feel more in my IT band, if this is the case with you are you are keeping your back straight (think shoulder blades touching to help here), you can move your front foot fowards about 2-4 inches and try again.

    It's really important to have good form with these because they're easy to 'fake' if you're flexible... but if all else fails, after working out when I was in gymnastics, I used to put my foot up on something waist - shoulder height and bend over my leg...
  • xerothermic
    xerothermic Posts: 80

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR_brOI62I8PO3YzlxdTklR35QYm0l0Hd9aH1qNtktUSEyS3pj9

    ROFL you just made my night (morning?)
  • xerothermic
    xerothermic Posts: 80
    I'm going to try all of the stretches in the AM. You guys rock. Maybe I'm just not having the form I thought, which is why I gave in and asked for help. I do have my boyfriend do the leg thingy from the first one and I'm not sure why it just doesn't do much. It never lasts.

    When I say that, though, I mean that within like 15 minutes, the muscles are tight again. Maybe I'm having a deeper problem, like the way I walk or something.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I'm going to try all of the stretches in the AM. You guys rock. Maybe I'm just not having the form I thought, which is why I gave in and asked for help. I do have my boyfriend do the leg thingy from the first one and I'm not sure why it just doesn't do much. It never lasts.

    When I say that, though, I mean that within like 15 minutes, the muscles are tight again. Maybe I'm having a deeper problem, like the way I walk or something.
    no it's that your muscles can be retracting or tightening after the over stretch. also they can be twinging or reacting from an injury. this might require PT.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    this is how my piriformis used to feel when I had a back injury. no amount of stretching would "get it" and if it did it would tighten right back up.

    i'm currently experiencing the same thing in my heels from plantar fascitis.

    inflammation causes that feeling.
  • xerothermic
    xerothermic Posts: 80
    Oh god. I feel for you. I have PF and it's been horrid. The only thing that's helped it has been changing my shoes (I live in my onitsuka tigers now) and I wear compression knee socks way too much. My calves are shortened slightly and always are icky/angry, but the right shoes and support really helps more than I realized.

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