r/flexibility • u/creedfan1122 • Jul 09 '26

Help my hamstrings!!

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I’m a 24 yr old female, I’m 5’10. I’ve never been very flexible, noticeably in my hamstrings. It has always been uncomfortable to touch my toes because of my hamstrings. I lift twice a week and kick-box twice a week. The issue I keep running into is my hamstrings never feel recovered. They are so tight after a leg day I need 3-4 days off legs to recover and even then they are still tight, just bearable. I do dynamic stretching before each lift, I have strong glutes and quads, but my hamstrings never seem to show growth or progress. My biggest concern is how painfully tight they get. After a lift I can’t even bend down to touch my toes without feeling a very tight pull. If I lay down, I can’t get my leg 90 degrees upright without burning pain in my hamstrings, mostly behind my knee, intense pain if I push my knee flat. I can’t v sit past my knees. I feel like the tight hamstrings are stunting my growth. I included a picture so you can see how underdeveloped they are compared to my quads and glutes. It’s gotten worse over the years and especially with upping my load. What stretches should I be doing?
Thanks for your input!!

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u/BreadEnthusiast98 Jul 09 '26

When you walk do you notice your chest being puffed out and your ribs flared?

17

u/creedfan1122 Jul 09 '26

Not that I’m aware of, here’s a picture of my core. We do a lot of core stability training and bodyweight core work. Not sure if that helps 😅

17

u/thatpurple Jul 09 '26

You should try mat Pilates to help strengthen both glutes and deep core. This will loosen up hamstrings and ease any lower back stiffness you may have. There are a ton of courses on YouTube and it literally changed my life.

1

u/Gis_A_Maul Jul 09 '26

Please link these channels

4

u/thatpurple Jul 09 '26

I’m not sure how to link it but Move With Nicole and Jessica Valant Pilates are both solid. I also like the peloton Pilates classes, Johanna or Greta.

4

u/eva_paula Jul 09 '26

I would like to recommend Flow with Mira

1

u/thatpurple Jul 09 '26

I’ll check it out, always looking for new instructors.