A couple of questions about flexibility

    Posted In: Flexibility

        • Participant
          merlin on May 23, 2009 at 10:34 pm #15775

          I cannot bend over to touch my toes. In fact it gets tight when my hands get down to my knees. When I try to bend like this all the tension and pain is felt at the back of my knees – is this normal?

          Also a friend told me to do the following stretch. Sit down on the floor and place the feet, which knees and ankles together, on a chair and then try to put the chin on the knees. The ankle between the calves and the thighs is about 90-100 degrees, and the back is more or less upright. What does this actually stretch – I’m guessing the hamstrings but I’m not sure?

        • Participant
          Mccabe on May 24, 2009 at 7:07 am #83809

          I don’t understand how your ankles can touch your knees? is this like curling up into a ball?

        • Participant
          merlin on May 24, 2009 at 10:52 am #83821

          It was meant to say, “with knees together, and ankles together”. Thanks.

        • Participant
          johnstrang on May 24, 2009 at 11:06 am #83824

          Do you do any lifting? My freshman year of college I was very inflexible and simply from doing a lot of strength training over last five years and ESPECIALLY this year I can now bend over and put my palms on the ground. Things like RDL’s, deep squats, and full power cleans can help that problem.

        • Participant
          trackspeedboy on May 24, 2009 at 12:08 pm #83825

          If you’re that tight I would think just general daily static stretching should fix your problem.
          And do dynamic stretches pre workouts and also hurdle step overs and other mobility drills.

        • Participant
          Mccabe on May 24, 2009 at 7:21 pm #83847

          Do that stretch and many more. Being that inflexible will affect your sprinting.

        • Keymaster
          Mike Young on June 5, 2009 at 12:12 am #84452

          Normally I don’t recommend a ton of stretching but in your case I think you need to do some extra work. PNF stretching and full range of movement lifting as John mentioned should help your flexibility greatly. If you can’t touch your knees you have a serious flexibility deficiency.

          ELITETRACK Founder

        • Member
          Carson Boddicker on June 17, 2009 at 8:31 am #84916

          Is there a possiblility that it is not necessarily a length issue of the hamstrings but an inability to execute a proper weight-shift to allow the movement? I haven’t really been privy to this idea until a friend recently posed the question. I have yet to find a good answer. Any help would be appreciated.

          Regards,
          Carson Boddicker

        • Keymaster
          Mike Young on June 17, 2009 at 12:20 pm #84939

          Carson-
          I have seen this to be the case but it’s pretty rare. Also, it seems the two issues are related because shifting the weight back while flexing at the trunk increases the length of the hamstings.

          ELITETRACK Founder

        • Member
          Carson Boddicker on June 19, 2009 at 8:04 am #85042

          Mike,

          Thanks for the note. What you said makes sense. Is the weight shifting necessary essentially “pushing the hips back”?

        • Participant
          Jay Turner on September 23, 2009 at 2:45 am #89537

          I’ve always wondered, what actually causes a severe case of inflexibility, similar to what merlin is experiencing?

        • Participant
          flow on September 23, 2009 at 8:36 am #89543

          I’ve always wondered, what actually causes a severe case of inflexibility, similar to what merlin is experiencing?

          not moveing,

          girls running around in high heels all day…

        • Participant
          flow on September 23, 2009 at 8:37 am #89544

          ya, strenth training and pnf would really rule in ure case! do you understand the term pnf?

        • Keymaster
          Mike Young on September 23, 2009 at 2:18 pm #89561

          I’ve always wondered, what actually causes a severe case of inflexibility, similar to what merlin is experiencing?

          We’re all different. Just as some people have limited innate capacity for speed, strength or any other biomotor ability; others are very naturally limited (or gifted) for flexibility.

          ELITETRACK Founder

        • Participant
          Jay Turner on September 25, 2009 at 9:42 am #89648

          [quote author="Jay Turner" date="1253654171"]I’ve always wondered, what actually causes a severe case of inflexibility, similar to what merlin is experiencing?

          We’re all different. Just as some people have limited innate capacity for speed, strength or any other biomotor ability; others are very naturally limited (or gifted) for flexibility.[/quote] Glad you brought up the “gifted” aspect of flexibility. I currently have an athlete who is RIDICULOUSLY flexible (to the point that it may actually hinder her). She’s VERY weak in her core area and posterior chain. What are some things I can do to improve this?

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