Stretching hamstrings hampered by lower back?

J

JackShephard

0
Hi,

I'd like to stretch to develop flexibility (I'm very in-flexible :) but I seem to have an issue with my lower back when it comes to hamstrings stretching. For example, if I prop one leg on a table and move forward, I feel my lower back is what is 'blocking' the stretch. Same thing lying down.

I could try 'touching my toes' but I was told this was bad for you - is this true?

I'm curious - is this normal when you begin?
 
bouncing is what is bad for you, and even that is debateable.

I am going to let some of the science type doc professional body knowledge peeps answer you, they will do better than me.

one thing i will tell you- your back is tight because your hammies are SOOOOO tight. relax into your stretch, breath, and take your time....

just sit on the floor, craoss legs, fold them, reach ofr toes, move around for an hour, and really stretch it out good, and you will begin to see the real viatlity to be gained by flexability

how old are you?
male or female?
injuries?
goals?

static long stretches have a cool deep pain,,,, anything sharp feeling is too fast. exhale into the stretches.

Sweat Daily
FF
 
Limited ammounts of flexibility in the lumbar spine can reap havoc on the hamstrings. Often people do well in the modifies sit and reach test just because they have a good lower back and bad hamstrings
 
What you are really trying to achieve is flexbility in your waist, not your back. This takes time and requires a little bit of stretching everyday.

Instead of propping your leg up against something and leaning forward, try sitting down, legs out in front of you and reach forward - make sure you bend at your waist and not your back.

Similarly, from a standing position, legs together, reach forwards and try to grab your ankles bringing your torso as close to your legs as possible. Again, bend at your waist. This takes time but it is the propper way of achieving flexibility without doing your back in.
 
MC001 said:
What you are really trying to achieve is flexbility in your waist, not your back. This takes time and requires a little bit of stretching everyday.

Instead of propping your leg up against something and leaning forward, try sitting down, legs out in front of you and reach forward - make sure you bend at your waist and not your back.

Similarly, from a standing position, legs together, reach forwards and try to grab your ankles bringing your torso as close to your legs as possible. Again, bend at your waist. This takes time but it is the propper way of achieving flexibility without doing your back in.
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Would you please give me the biomechanical reasoning behind bending from the waist as opposed to bending from the hips when sitting down with your legs straight out in front of you in order to perform a hamstring stretch?

I have never had a physiotherapist or coach tell me it's proper form to bend from the waist in that position (or in any other position unless I'm doing side bends). In fact, I have been told on a repeated basis to always bend from the hips to protect my spine. It's pretty much verboten to bend at the waist when your legs are straight because of the load placed on the lumbar vertebrae.

If I sit on the floor with my legs straight out in front of me, I can put my head between my knees and hang on to my feet with my wrists by bending at the hips. I definitely feel that stretch in my hamstrings. I certainly can't do that if I bend at the waist. In fact, I don't get much stretch at all other than my upper back because it automatically pulls forward, curves down and puts pressure on my neck. Nicht so gut.
 
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