trying to touch my toes.

[vivid]

I don't think I have ever been able to touch my toes and for some reason that has become a goal of mine... I streche before and after my workouts, should I strech more often? what are the good streches for touching your toes apart from trying to touch them?

Inability to touch your toes can be due to: (1) lower back limitations and (2) hamstring limitations so work both.

I can touch my toes most of the time. Exceptions: (1) 6:00 a.m. in the morning and (2) a couple of hours after a long run.

You may find that the stretch comes easier after the muscles are warm from doing leg work, or at least this has been my experience.

With a little practice you'll be able to do this without any problem. The real stretch is can you touch the floor with the palms of your hands with legs straight. Now that takes some work.

[tim_mcf]

It wouldn't hurt to take a yoga class. I took it for a semester in college (10 years ago?...ye gods) and while I couldn't ever stretch before, I can lay my palms flat on the floor even now. You kind of have to learn how to stretch. Most people try to force themselves down, which creates tension - but you want to relax to stretch.

[cursor]

Try stretching from a seated position (versus standing, then bending towards the floor). Forget trying to reach your toes -- instead, focus on very gradually stretching your hamstrings. With your legs flat on the ground, lower your torso towards your quads ... feel the stretch. Hold for a 15-20 seconds, then slightly relax the tension. Do it again (several times).

Note that stretching is something that can be done while watching TV, listening to music, or while just sitting around BS'ing with your friends/family.

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by pierini

The real stretch is can you touch the floor with the palms of your hands with legs straight. Now that takes some work.

For me I can't do palm on the floor until I've fully woken up or I've been sitting w/o exercise for days on end. Between 10 am and 12 am it's easy.

The real stretch is being able to bend over standing and touch my forehead to my knees. With a little regular practise I can do it seated on the floor but haven't been able to standing since I was a teen.

[vivid]

How often should you do the streches? Is once a day enough (before & after workouts) or should I do it more often?

<bending over touching toes while trying to type on the keyboard> - the more the better.

[maverick]

I can maintain my palms on the floor. For me, I always do some dynamic stretching to loosen the muscles first. This can be running, kicking, jumping jacks, whatever. Just stretch whenever you have the time. Try to maintain the stretched position for at least 15 seconds, but no more than 60. Generally, when you stretch for a few seconds, you feel a point where the tightness subsides slightly, try to reach a little further then.

[tiadesai]

i think your bosy is not flexible enough to touch your toes
i think you should practice and exercise everyday
eventually you will be able to touch your toes

[smm3]

I personally prefer stretching my hamstrings lying on my back. That way the floor supports your low back and you can get a more concentrated stretch on your hamstrings.

This also allows you better control on progression. Start by pulling the knee to your chest. Then take hold of your calf trying to straighten the leg from there, and so on and so on. You could also take hold of a towel draped over your foot so that you can stretch with your leg straight and get a bit of a calf stretch in there too.