suggestions for hamstring tightness

I would suggest getting a foam roller and using it before and after you exercise.

I know that feeling, what I do are good mornings. After a couple of sets, they loosen up almost always. Hope it helps

make sure to also stretch your quads and hip flexors as well as your hamstring. your leg muscles work as a team

foam rolling and massage helps

good mornings? what is that? oh and what is a foam roller?

i do stretches already, i do those ones like mentioned sitting on the floor and stretching out to eat leg, i also do some standing.. it just doesn't seem to be enough? maybe i will try yoga, never have done it before....

i can see good mornings being useful if you had a weakness in your posterior chain, but for tightness i'd recommend stretching.

not to discount good mornings, by the way.
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Hamstrings/BBGoodMorning.html

is there a difference between good mornings and straight leg deadlifts?? cuz i never do good mornings am i missing out on something?

good mornings? what is that? oh and what is a foam roller?

i do stretches already, i do those ones like mentioned sitting on the floor and stretching out to eat leg, i also do some standing.. it just doesn't seem to be enough? maybe i will try yoga, never have done it before....

i can see good mornings being useful if you had a weakness in your posterior chain, but for tightness i'd recommend stretching.

not to discount good mornings, by the way.
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Hamstrings/BBGoodMorning.html

is there a difference between good mornings and straight leg deadlifts?? cuz i never do good mornings am i missing out on something?

they work the same muscles, so i wouldn't trade one for the other except for personal preference,

good mornings? what is that? oh and what is a foam roller?

i do stretches already, i do those ones like mentioned sitting on the floor and stretching out to eat leg, i also do some standing.. it just doesn't seem to be enough? maybe i will try yoga, never have done it before....

i can see good mornings being useful if you had a weakness in your posterior chain, but for tightness i'd recommend stretching.

not to discount good mornings, by the way.
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Hamstrings/BBGoodMorning.html

is there a difference between good mornings and straight leg deadlifts?? cuz i never do good mornings am i missing out on something?

they work the same muscles, so i wouldn't trade one for the other except for personal preference,

thats what i thought... i do straight leg deads cuz i dont think you can kill urself doing that exercise... if you a good morning wrong and lose balance you mine as well call them good nights!

Have you tried stretch bands? When I was dancing, I pulled my right hamstring so bad I couldn't sit down and the physical therapist gave them to me. You can order them off amazon and they come in different strengths, but they are good for starting out and getting flexibility (or getting it back like me)

The excersize you talk about where you lay on your back and lift your legs is one of the ones the therapist had me do. When you can't lift it totally straight, you wrap the band around your foot and hold it with your weight where you CAN keep it straight and gently stretch upwards

There are some great yoga poses that will stretch and relieve pain form tight hamstrings. Definitely downward dog, and be sure you slowly (very slowly, stretching should never be "bouncy") press your heels back, to the floor if you can do it.

My favorite hamstring stretch, though, is the wall assisted. You can see a video of it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wz23ONDzUc

If you use a towel or band and flex your foot, you'll get an even better stretch. The key to this one, though, is to keep both hips on the floor. You *will* feel it in your hamstring, but the relief afterward makes it so worth it!