Question - Standing Hamstring Stretch

by Vic
(AZ USA)

Reference the standing hamstring stretch posted on this site...the foot on the chair / table / couch, etc....does it matter if the toes are pointed out as in a football punt or should the toes and foot be pulled back like training the foot / ankle for a side kick in martial arts? There is a different feel for both versions. Is one better than the other, harmful or are both good?

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Question - Standing Hamstring Stretch

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Aug 16, 2008
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You can do both NEW
by: Bart - SII

You can perform the stretch both ways - with the toes pointing forward, and with them rotated laterally. This changes the pull on the individual hamstrings, and you should feel the stretch move back and forth from the inside to the outside of the posterior thigh. The important thing about this exercise is to keep your chest close to your thigh and your back flat.

P.S. - thanks for that article - I would agree with just about everything listed in the management and treatment section - especially the area on the neural tension

Bart

Aug 20, 2008
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Follow up Question ref this & other stretches NEW
by: vic

Working on stretching to help the hamstring injury, but have a question. Should you stop the stretch when it first starts to hurt, when the pain is too much to stretch it further, or somewhere in between?

thanks for your time.

Aug 20, 2008
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Somewhere in between NEW
by: Bart - SII

Stretching, especially if you are very tight or have an injury to the muscle, is going to be uncomfortable. You should push to a point where it is mildly uncomfortable, but not "painful". And the discomfort should subside as soon as you release the stretch.

Bart

Aug 23, 2008
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sorry...another ? NEW
by: vic

Does your reply from a knee question....
"Generally speaking, most of the time popping like you are describing is not something to worry about. As long as it is relatively pain free, it is probably just part of the healing and nothing to stress over. Popping like this can be caused by many different things, but most of the time it is from very small adhesions that form between the different layers of tissue as the healing progresses. This causes the tissues to stick to one another and then pop as they release and start to move again.".....
apply to a hamstring also? If there is some lingering pain with it? The pop usually occurs when the leg straigtens out too far (like when laying on stomach and the leg straigtens out without keeping leg angled and knee bent) or when going through the motion of a right leg side kick it will snap the left support leg (not doing a full force kick, just a relaxed through the motion kick).

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