how do you get more flexible?

[JohnCU]

i've never been able to put my feet together and bend over and touch my toes, ever, even in highschool when i was super skinny.

 

[MrChad]

Stretch more?

 

[IceBergSLiM]

stretching daily.

 

[dmw16]

stretching and/or stick removal.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
stretching daily.

 

[brikis98]

on a daily basis, warm up for ~15 minutes (walk, elliptical, very light jog) and stretch.

 

[FoBoT]

more lube in your joints?

 

[KillerCharlie]

Originally posted by: brikis98
on a daily basis, warm up for ~15 minutes (walk, elliptical, very light jog) and stretch.

Yeah, you'll definitely notice that you can stretch more after your muscles are warmed up.

 

[Riverhound777]

I dunno, I have the same issue. I tried stretching for a few weeks and saw no difference. But I don't really see the need to be able to touch my toes either

 

[Amused]

Just a thought.

Not everyone is built the same. Some people will never be able to touch their toes and trying too hard can damage the disks in your back.

The goal when stretching is not distance. It is merely to stretch your muscles. Always strech with warmed up muscles and never force it to the point of pain.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Amused
Just a thought.

Not everyone is built the same. Some people will never be able to touch their toes and trying too hard can damage the disks in your back.

The goal when stretching is not distance. It is merely to stretch your muscles. Always strech with warmed up muscles and never force it to the point of pain.

good info thanks

 

[RESmonkey]

Originally posted by: Amused
Just a thought.

Not everyone is built the same. Some people will never be able to touch their toes and trying too hard can damage the disks in your back.

The goal when stretching is not distance. It is merely to stretch your muscles. Always strech with warmed up muscles and never force it to the point of pain.

x2

 

[skace]

Warm up before stretching, stretch on a regular basis - treat it with the same type of seriousness you would a real workout and strive for gains. As you become more flexible you should be able to stretch further, just like as you become stronger you should be able to lift heavier. People who don't lift seriously can always be stuck at the same strength level, people who don't stretch seriously can always be stuck at the same level of flexibility. It should also be noted that muscles and flexibility are at odds with each other to some degree. You lose flexibility as you get bigger.

Find the limit you can do on a stretch without bouncing (bouncing is bad, could rip something) and hold it for upwards of 30 seconds. It most likely won't be the most enjoyable thing in the world.

 

[Jahee]

To those that mentioned size.. I'd argue size has nothing to do with it, i'm 6'1 and over 200lbs and i can touch my palms on the floor infront of me when i'm warmed up.

Don't expect to notice big improvements straight away, it took the best part of a year of stretching thoroughly 3x a week to reach this point, i used to do it because i sprint as part of my warm up. But as Amused said, some people will never be able to touch their toes no matter how much they stretch..

 

[DAPUNISHER]

To add to the feedback, make certain you stretch properly. Some of the people I trained M.A. with over the years, were taught some very bad habits. E.G. Doing a trailing leg hurdle stretch wrong, will wreck your knees. Don't bounce, stretch out slooooowly, breath naturally, and I personally stretch more during warm down than warm up.

Amused,

I've read your post on H&F topics in OT for years, I'm bummed you don't post here more. You are one of the most knowledgeable members here IMO.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: Jahee
To those that mentioned size.. I'd argue size has nothing to do with it, i'm 6'1 and over 200lbs and i can touch my palms on the floor infront of me when i'm warmed up.

I'm 6'6 and I can touch the floor as well. But size still matters, not height but size as in muscular build. You will lose some flexibility as you become more and more muscular.

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: skace

Originally posted by: Jahee
To those that mentioned size.. I'd argue size has nothing to do with it, i'm 6'1 and over 200lbs and i can touch my palms on the floor infront of me when i'm warmed up.

I'm 6'6 and I can touch the floor as well. But size still matters, not height but size as in muscular build. You will lose some flexibility as you become more and more muscular.

Mmm, i'd argue that aswell, my thighs are 29' round, whilst thats nothing massive, as they've got bigger my flexibility has actually improved. I think that if you keep flexible as you develop size then you're fine, i once saw a picture of a bodybuilder doing the splits..