leg flexibility

[Bagpussfan]

hi,

I was wondering, does anyone know good stretches for loosening up the groin? I've been doing butterfly stretches and straddle stretching for a year now and my knees are still almost 90 degrees from the floor in this position. Are there any other stretches I can do, because the rest of my legs are flexible and I can put my chin on my thighs with a double hamstring stretch and it's just really uneven!

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

[ultimateFighter]

Hi,
get a friend to squat down and put your ankle on their shoulder and get them to slowly stand up so you are in a comfortable position without too much pain, and hold it there for about 10 seconds,then lower back down then lift again getting higher all the time.

[nready]

Maybe this will help.
http://www.yogabasics.com/yoga-postures/hip-opening-poses.html

What I do, is put my right ankle on my left knee, than put my arms through and grab my left knee, and pull toward my chest while laying on my back.

And here is something to make you laugh. The hole stick figure thing is hilarious.
http://yogasite.com/postures.html#Dog
I mean how do you know if you are close to what it is. Stretch and laugh that will help you get flexible.

[Merat]

Ive been doing squats for a while now and belive it or not it helped with my flexibility. I dont know why but somthing thom kurz said about doing the splits and leg strength which can be increased by squats. anywho hope my advice was helpfull

[chubby dragon]

yip I agree with Merat... Though I have problems with flexibility - probably because i'm getting on in years :( i notice the most dramatic improvements when i increase strength in the area to be stretched. I know it's counter-intuitive as more muscle means less flexibility as a general rule, but really, jog a couple of times a week, or do leg machines at the gym, and you'll soon notice your legs and hips getting more flexible. I'm just guessing, but maybe there is a perfect muscle mass/flexibility balance point, and those of us who lack flexibility do so because we also lack the strength to flex...

[nready]

Ive been doing squats for a while now and belive it or not it helped with my flexibility. I dont know why but somthing thom kurz said about doing the splits and leg strength which can be increased by squats. anywho hope my advice was helpfull

This is actually right in that it gets blood flowing to the legs. This will help you to maintain a flexible muscle in any part of the body.

So what you need, is a routine that is as much workout as it is stretching. To get it to help you get and have open to you over time flexibility. That which stays will be your preferred level if you can maintain it " the workout."

To go beyond the basic muscle strength built stretch, you will need to learn that stretching as much emotional as physical.

[fighting13]

put your feet about one and a half shoulder-widths apart and turn your feet outwards as much as you can. from there bend your knees slowly keeping your feet pointed out. make sure you dont lean forward if you want a good stretch

[HoAmPacMan]

Good info guys.. Thanx...

[Tim T]

saw this and thought id add it as a bit of motivation for us all lol.

http://www.ratemykick.com/index.php?username=sde1uk&phid=70

its Emma Elmes shes mad flexible, i cant get my head round this kick its crazy!!!!! :confused: :) :rolleyes:

[never_surrender]

saw this and thought id add it as a bit of motivation for us all lol.

http://www.ratemykick.com/index.php?username=sde1uk&phid=70

its Emma Elmes shes mad flexible, i cant get my head round this kick its crazy!!!!! :confused: :) :rolleyes:

It resembles Chloe Bruce's Skorpian Kick immensely (she actually created the kick apparently, weather true or not i do not know but she was the first person i have ever seen doing it) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rssRXYrRNuI

I actually asked my Kickboxing instructor to do this kick but sadly she declined saying Kicking high is one thing, dis-locating my legs is another! Good advice i thought.

[Taliesin]

Ive been doing squats for a while now and belive it or not it helped with my flexibility. I dont know why but somthing thom kurz said about doing the splits and leg strength which can be increased by squats. anywho hope my advice was helpfull

One of the major hypothesis behind Kurz's methods is that you need sufficient strength at the limits of your current range of motion before your nervous system will trust you to stretch any further. Improving your strength at your current limits of motion will therefore help toward improving your flexibility.

This, in my mind, is more apparant in the Kurz video than the book.

[Fillythebish]

These are pretty good, have helped me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwtM7ZArGxU

[prowla]

I recently had the misfortune of finding out the difference between stretching and dynamic stretching, when I pulled a hamstring.
Ouch.

[davefly76]

one thing i've been doing recently are straight leg raises, 10 of each front, side and back, first thing in the morning. literally as soon as i get out of bed. i used to get cramp in my hips doing the straddle stretch but it has got a lot easier and more comfortable since i started doing the early morning stretches. :)

[zenpokaiten]

hi,

I was wondering, does anyone know good stretches for loosening up the groin? I've been doing butterfly stretches and straddle stretching for a year now and my knees are still almost 90 degrees from the floor in this position. Are there any other stretches I can do, because the rest of my legs are flexible and I can put my chin on my thighs with a double hamstring stretch and it's just really uneven! Check into a dvd called Training Secrets Of Champions by Blackbelt Magazine. Larry Lam gives some great tips and his workout for flexibility. Definitely some great tips.

[Deadlytech]

can anyone tell me how usefull deadlifts are? and are leg raises enough to gain strengh in the hip section?