Doorway Hamstring Stretch
Monday, April 23, 2007
Jolie Bookspan, M.Ed, PhD, FAWM
Here is a hamstring stretch that is relaxing to do, more effective than bending over to touch toes, and doesn't pressure the lower back or neck discs. The doorway hamstring stretch trains healthful positioning that makes straighter posture feel natural in daily life when standing up and gives a better stretch while lying down. Reader Ivy from New Zealand sent in the photo at right of doing this stretch so well. Thank you Ivy.
- Lie face up in a doorway.
- Lift one leg up to rest against the wall or doorjamb.
- Keep your body, shoulders, head, and other leg relaxed comfortably flat on the floor.
- Keep both hips flat on the floor. Don't let your hips round under you. Don't let the leg on the floor get lifted upward along with the leg you are stretching. If it raises, that often indicates a tight hip. Gently keeping the leg down on the floor stretches the hip, giving additional benefit.
- Relax and breathe. Smile. Hold for a few seconds, then switch legs using the other side of the door or wall.
- For more stretch, move your whole body further into the doorway.
- To add stretch for the back of your calf and bottom of your foot, pull your toes back and downward, using your shin muscles, a towel, or your hand if you can reach.
It is not the case that you must bend the other knee to protect your back or prevent muscle strain. It is not harmful to keep the leg on the floor comfortably straight and stretched flat against the floor. Keeping the leg down makes the stretch more functional and transferable to daily life movement. Future posts will cover why. Until then, relax and enjoy this stretch. Readers, send your photos and stories showing healthy movement during real life. Don't be shy.
Read more from Ivy to get inspired about fitness as a lifestyle
Labels: disc, feet, hamstring, leg stretch, stretch
2 Comments:
At Monday, April 23, 2007 7:57:00 PM,
Ivy -New Zealand said…
Dear Dr Jolie - Thank you so much for including my picture in your post. Your readers may be interested in just how long it has taken me to achieve this stretch. Over two years ago,I had an acute attack of sciatica which prevented me from being able to lift my leg 12 inches off the ground. Every day, twice a day, over that period, I stretched my hamstrings by placing my foot up a wall. It is only since this past Christmas that I have felt like the mission has been successful. As you can see by the picture, I have suceeded. Again, Dr Jolie, I want to say a very special thank you. You are an inspiration.
At Friday, May 11, 2007 3:33:00 PM,
Jolie Bookspan, M.Ed, PhD said…
Readers, Ivy did much good lifestyle movement retraining like Healthy Bending to stop sciatica. Ivy is modest and made rapid gains.
She used the doorway hamstring stretch and others on this blog instead of forward bending stretches, which put compressive forces on the muscles and discs, inviting sciatica.
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