Move to Live Your Resource to Moving Well and Living Life
No matter what hamstring stretch Dr. Google throws your way and no matter how long you hold it, you still can’t touch your toes. Or maybe you can squeeze out a toe graze for a bit after stretching but it seems that the hamstring forces that be lock right back up a short while later. What gives? Recently, I had the pleasure of working with a young runner. The toe touch discussion came up and she immediately pulled out the “I’ve never been able to touch my toes and I’ve stretched my hamstrings FOREVER. I’m 32 now, don’t think any amount of stretching will reverse that”. Within 4 sessions she was touching the floor and her program didn’t call for a single “hamstring stretch”. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Our brains are powerful things. They communicate to our muscles by sending messages through our nervous system. In many cases, “tightness” that we feel is really some type of overactivity in that DR. GOOGLE AND INSANITY (continued from outside)
muscle due to us being in protective mode (think fight or flight response, protective mode) or that muscle overworking for another muscle that has become lazy. So, what’s the big deal with being able to touch your toes? Besides loosening up your hips and taking pressure off your lower back it has been linked to heart health. Yes, you read that correctly. The American Journal of Physiology studied 526 participants and found a correlation with being able to sit, reach, and touch your toes and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in people 40 or older. Have you ever been told that your hamstrings are too tight and putting stress on your lower back? Interested to see if a few simple suggestions can help your “hamstrings of steel” relax a bit? Your toes may not be as far away as they seem.
Have a great month! Joe
www.choiceptny.com
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