Want to Touch Your Toes? - 5 tips to increase hamstring flexibility

When you bend forward to touch your toes - can you reach them? If you feel like the reason you can't touch your toes is a tightness at the back of your thighs, you probably think you should stretch those muscles (your hamstrings). And, you might be right!

But if it's not working, here are 5 things you can do to get closer to touching your toes.

  1. Foam Rolling - Use a foam roller to roll out your calves, back of thighs, glutes, and upper back

  2. Deep Breathing - Lie on your back, hugging both knees, fully inhale for 6 seconds and exhale for 8 seconds

  3. Roll your feet - Massage your foot using a tennis-ball sized ball

  4. Stretch the front of your thighs - Lie on your stomach, bend your knee and hold onto your ankle, tuck your tailbone under until you feel a stretch at the front of your thighs

  5. Strengthen - strengthen your lower abs with pelvic tilts and eccentrically strengthen your hamstring with light dead lifts

If you need questions about these strategies, let us know!

Previous
Previous

When to try physical therapy before surgery

Next
Next

A surprising fitness hack ...