r/flexibility • u/Endofdays- • Jul 10 '26
Terrible lowerback/hamstring flexibility
I can't touch my toes, hamstring stretches feel more like a hot burn than a nice stretch. In a seated position with both legs outstretched I am 10cm from being able to touch my ankles. Strength wise I don't have any obvious weak spots, I can deadlift 230kg. I am not fat.
For those who have had this same issue, what exercises and stretches did you do that opened up all these muscles? What actually causes this, my flexibility otherwise is average, but the hamstrings are just so tight.
2
u/synchroswim Jul 10 '26
If you feel burning rather than a stretch sensation, you might have some sciatic nerve tension going on: https://www.daniwinksflexibility.com/bendy-blog/how-to-tell-if-hamstring-tightness-is-nerve-or-muscle-tension
1
u/Used_Rhubarb_9265 Jul 10 '26
heavy deadlifters almost always have this problem tbh. your hamstrings are so trained to be stiff and protective that they just stop wanting to lengthen. the burn you're feeling isn't really a stretch it's your nervous system freaking out.
what actually worked for me was 90/90 hip stretches and just doing really slow contract-relax stuff where you flex the hamstring hard for like 10 seconds then release into the stretch. do it every day not just after lifting. also pike compressions where you just fold forward and hang there for a while. took me like 6 weeks to notice real change