It Would Really Help You To Learn Proper Hamstring Stretches to Enhance Your Workout!
A proper hamstring stretches are one of the most important stretches that you can do before or after a workout. Your lower body can maintain flexibility, and it will stave off injury.
Your hamstrings are very susceptible to injury, some of the common injuries are tears and strains. Sprinters and the like can also experience these injuries when they have to put in quick bursts of energy.
At the same time, if you stretch properly, you will be able to diminish the likelihood of getting your hamstrings in a bind.
Below are a few exercises that you can utilize in your everyday workout.
Basic Stretch
Sit on the floor, pointing your legs right in front of you. Hold out your arms straight in front of you, bending your waist as you lean forward. Keep moving your body forward as you glide your hands along the tops of your legs.
Make sure to keep your knees straight as you move forward. Once you feel some discomfort, hold for 10 seconds and then return to an upright seated position. Do this three times
Seated Hamstring and Groin Stretch
Sit tall with both legs fully outstretched. Flex your right knee so that the right foot rests comfortably along your left inner thigh, with the right knee as close as possible to the floor. While maintaining an extended spine and lowering your shoulders, you reach forward to grab your left foot, which should still be extended.
Move as far as you can, keeping your spine relaxed to get that full stretch, then hold this. You will feel the stretch along the back of the outstretched leg, and along the inside and rear of the flexed lg. Switch legs and do this again, being sure to maintain breathing.
Variations on Lying Hamstring Stretch
Lie flat on the floor with your knees flexed to approximately ninety degrees. Hold your left leg up, taking your hands, and holding your leg behind the thigh. While keeping your right leg straight and down on the floor, ease your left leg as close to your chest as you can get it. This position will allow you to feel the stretch down the back of your thigh. Switch legs and repeat this. And as always, focus on easy breathing during the exercise. If this exercise is too easy for you, a good idea is to move back to the original start position and before you ease the raised leg to your chest, straighten it instead.
Once more, your raised thigh should stretch appropriately; however, unlike before, where just the top of the thigh felt the burn, your whole thigh should get a good workout, and you will feel the stretch within it the whole time. Remember to keep your back as flat as possible on the floor during both variations. Once again, repeat the exercise with the opposite leg. And again, focus on easy breathing as you move.
There are several variations of the above positions. You can just shift how the lower leg is positioned in order to switch up the lying hamstring stretch. Merely twist the leg over your chest. Ease the leg into position, taking care not to pull on it forcefully to get it where it needs to be.
Sit on the floor with your right leg straight. Bend your left knee to the side and place the bottom of your left foot against the inside of your right thigh. Keep your right toes pointing straight up. Using your hands, move down your leg, bending at the hips to achieve this exercise. Feel the stretch in your right hamstrings. Switch the leg and do this again.
Trick – Get every part of that hamstring stretched by making your toes point a different direction east time you lean forward.
Chair Stretch For Hamstrings
Use a chair or any other type of sturdy object that is knee-high and place your right foot on the edge. Keep the left foot on the floor. Bend your right knee slightly. Maintaining a straight back, use your hips to move forward. Let your right hamstring stretch as much as it can. Repeat by switching legs.
There are many forms of hamstring stretches that can be performed. By working these proper hamstring stretches into your daily workout out routine you will not only become more flexible, but prevent injury and reduce lower back pain.
P.S. Don’t forget to visit my blog posting “How To Do Proper Hamstring Stretches“, for some detailed example video’s.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 at 4:05 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.