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Much to the amusement of my colleagues I'm nowhere near able to touch my toes (about 10 1/2" away!). I've blamed it on cycling giving me tight hamstrings and calves. Years ago I read an article that suggested stretching was overrated and added little real benefit to physical fitness, this was enough for me to sack any notion of stretching, though I seem to have negelected it a bit too much. Anyone else really bad at this, or is stretching a part of your routine? I'd also be interested why its used as a measure of fitness, is it really that relevant?
I like you but I'm not falling for that one again......
With about three hours of stretching/warming up I get there. Got significantly harder over there last year though. As have my arteries I think.
Palms flat on the floor here. Only used to stretch as part of martial arts. Was told recently by a well respected physio not to both stretching routinely, only to do it if needed for a particular reason. Some people are naturally more flexible.
If you're going to stretch, the new thinking seems to be that it should be under load otherwise you develop extra range with no control, which can lead to injury ironically.
Hands almost flat on the floor - also from martial arts. I think the intrinsic benefits are mixed - over stretching can be harmful, but using muscles over a wider range of motion can be beneficial.
No, have never been able to touch my toes with legs straight, even as a child.
I've never found it hindered me in any way at all, I have knees that bend that allow access to my feet 🙂
Yes...
when sat on the floor with my knees crossed!
Actually, I can just about manage it since I've started running a bit. My calves and quads are no longer quite what they used to be either.
Am I aloud to bend my knees?
Not at the moment. Can generally touch them if stretch each day for about a week. Could put palms on floor when doing circuits twice a week.
Hold on............cripes, well short!
Yes. Do a series of stretches most mornings and have done for years since a serious back injury. Includes hamstrings and glutes which I feel helps to 'balance' my knees as well as my back.
psling - nearly 60, 200lbs +, 38" waist 8)
Touch them?
I've not seen them since the millenium.
I can touch them easily. Never bother stretching.
Always amused me when I'd go to physios, I'd say I cycle, they'd say, You'll have tight hamstrings!, let's see you try and touch your toes.
Oh.
However I was recently diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome which appears to be another way of saying you can touch your toes.
Started doing Yoga recently. Gone from barely reaching past my knees to hands flat on the floor. Recommended!
It's not just the hamstrings that are the problem (from bike riding), it's the lower back too and better flexibility there is definitely a good thing.
Yep, like a couple of the above from Martial Arts training, easier if I warm up for a couple of minutes beforehand though.
Palms flat here
Nope, my arms are obviously too short, nothing to do with flexibility
Only just, I do a bit of running and **** all stretching
Palms almost flat for me - despite being fat and unfit 😀
I can touch my toes once I'm an hour or two into the day. Straight out of bed in the morning I'm nowhere near.
Same as [b]Lady G[/b]. I also have short legs and long arms - perfect for kayaking 😉
Not at the moment but usually I can.
In my 48 years of life I've never been able to touch my toes,never really felt the need to either tbh.......
Easily (44)
Also 44 and have always been able to touch my toes easily. Palms almost flat on the floor after a warm up.
Now, just. After a squat or deads session, easily.
I never used to be able to but since riding a road bike everyday I can.
Yes.
Though I'm wary of stretching some muscles. My calf muscle 'popped' out when stretching lying in bed. Now it happens occasionally when I try and extend my foot down when on the bike.
Its agony, I have to push it back in with my thumbs.
Yes I can - palms almost flat 🙂
I'm 46 and reasonably fit. I remember reading somewhere an Olympic medal Winners Coach saying that "a long muscle is a strong muscle..."
I stretch every day now as part of my Morning routine; Breakfast/Wash/Stretch/Get dressed/leave for work 😆
I do not wish to touch my toes, nor any other person's toes, and I do not understand this obsession. Did you learn this in school, is this why you worry about such a thing?
This worked for me:http://www.bikejames.com/strength/how-to-touch-your-toes-without-stretching/
That seemed ridiculously effective.
I consider myself to be relatively fit (I'm 29), but I can normally get nowhere near my toes. Just tried that tip and can now touch my toes easily. Very odd. I don't really believe I'm better off now though.
No chance, my fat belly gets in the way. 😯
YoKaiser - Member
Much to the amusement of my colleagues I'm nowhere near able to touch my toes (about 10 1/2" away!). I've blamed it on cycling giving me tight hamstrings and calves. Years ago I read an article that suggested stretching was overrated and added little real benefit to physical fitness, this was enough for me to sack any notion of stretching, though I seem to have negelected it a bit too much. Anyone else really bad at this, or is stretching a part of your routine? I'd also be interested why its used as a measure of fitness, is it really that relevant?
Haha! If you went doon any further you'd get yer beard hair caught up wi yer baw hair!.
Yes, just, that hurt quite a bit 👿
Yep. Palms flat (53).
No. Never been able to. Even after a year and a half of yoga I still can't.
Nope, not even close...tried to touch my ankles and failed at that too. Can touch my knees 😀
closer now than in the last 30 odd years.. mainly due to stretching my hamstrings to alleviate knee pain
can I touch your toes..?
Flat palms here, & I'm fat, 45 & ginger.
But hey, at least I can impress chicks with this new skill that some of you lot can't.
Can you just give me a few minutes 🙂
My physio trained a team of ultra runners. None could touch their knees but were hardly ever injured.
Flexibility is overrated according to him.
I can do it with a bendy back but not if I keep it straight. Not sure if it's mountain biking or hip destroying that's done that tbh, not too fussed though.
Yep, hands flat to the floor.
Not been able to since I was 15 or so. Certainly can't now, major repeating lower back injury (currently causing me numb legs and cramps but the GP doesn't seem to think it's a worry!) has made it worse. Can't ride now as the extended position of furthest pedal stroke pulls through my bum and up my back which triggers spasms.
Stretch when you can kids!
I can, in fact I can get my wrists on the floor if I am warmed up not bad for 37 eh? , but I do train karate twice a week which keeps me supple.
I thought anyone who is vaguely fit could?
But yes, I would be horrified if I couldn't.
Flexibility of back and legs and length of arms.
Don't bounce when stretching and all that.
Flexibility of back and legs and length of arms.
I suppose I do have freakishy long arms, but I have also done martial arts for years which helps.
Some bits of you are meant to be stable. Some bits are meant to move
The problems come when the bits that are meant to move don't (due to lack of stretching or movement)
If that happens then the bits that are meant to be stable have to move...and then it hurts. So it doesn't really matter that I can't touch my toes yet but at least I can get to hold my ankles and stretch my hamstrings
> http://www.bikejames.com/strength/how-to-touch-your-toes-without-stretching/
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Haha I just tried this and it nearly crippled me.
Easily, 44 and overweight, but I do have a fairly active job.
No!
yep, palms flat on the floor from cold. Yoga.
I can go beyond palms flat on the floor even without a warm up. I put it down to all the gymnastics I did when I was young. I've been advised to keep flexible to keep my poor old back working.
Palms flat from cold. Bit tight but I don't stretch much anymore.
I'm usually able to get fists on the floor if try. Pretty important for road racers, you need to maximise the power you can produce and minimise the power you must produce. Flexibility will mean you can achieve a more 'aero' position on the bike (minimising the power you must produce) that doesn't inhibit power production (maximising the power you can produce), although glute flexibility matters more than hamstring flexibility when it comes to position on the bike. Luckily mine's really good and I can get away with 13cm of drop on my road bike.
Yes, palms flat, behind my heels!
I'd willingly trade that for the ability to romp up hills the way I did 20 years ago...
Nowt to do with fitness/flexibility it's down to your pelvis position apparently *? I stretch daily and can get nowhere near touching toes ...
*from my doctor
See i was told something different. Touching your toes is related to flexibility (but not fitness) but other leg movements are related to pelvis and hips, e.g. putting feet behind head
I touch other peoples.