touching toes

[swindontony]

I go kickboxing and consider myself to be in quite good shape for my age (45) but no matter how warmed up I am I just cannot touch my toes during the stretching exercises. Is there any exercises that will help me to touch my toes. Thanks in advance.

[Haggisdj]

I'm 48 and I do Tae Kwon-Do. going for my black belt in October. I wasn't flexible when I started but a lot better now.

Try holding your feet with your legs bent and then straightening them. It won't work immediately but stick at it.

[smudge]

Hi Haggis - long time no see! Good luck with your black belt!

Hi Tony - When I get out of bed in the mornings, the first thing I do is stretch my arms up as high as I can, then gently bend over & touch my toes.

If you start off doing this very gently, you will master it in time - it keeps you supple too!

[alfiebrady]

Get into the 'touching toes' position, but don't point your arms down. Bring them back up to your chest, and fold them across. Straighten your back, so that your upper body is at a right angle to your legs...and then hold for as long as you can. The idea is that the weight of your upper body (providing you're not too top-heavy!) will help stretch your legs. Trying to touch toes often causes people to use their spines, rather than legs.

[nedflanders]

you need to stretch your back as well as your hamstrings. Try sitting down with your toes pointing towards the ceiling and lean over and slide your hand up your shin to your feet.

[Word Butcher]

'Are there any exercises?'

[smudge]

Meant to say - when I stretch my arms up in the air, I'm also on tip-toe. I then bring my heels down to touch my toes.

We also do this at Yoga.

[gessoo]

My physio told me that some people just can't touch their toes whatever they do and however fit they are. Something to do with ligaments.

I suffer with arthritis of the hips and knees and yet can still touch my toes easily and walk forward on my hands down the floor. I was also told by my doctor that people with very flexible ligaments like mine are more prone to arthritis and rheumatic aches and pains as they often overwork their joints and muscles without realising it. So don't try too hard in case you do some damage.

[smudge]

There are people in our Yoga class who can't touch their toes, but our teacher is brilliant & wouldn't force anyone to do the impossible. It's all very gentle exercising with the aim to keep you supple & to give you peace of mind!

[Englishbird]

My Dad can't, and although he's 57 now, he was very fit when he was younger playing rugby etc. As gessoo says, it's something to do with short ligaments, or short hamstrings or something like that.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, I'm the exact opposite, i'm very flexible but about as healthy as bannofee pie!

[gessoo]

Apparently it's those with the shorter ligaments that are stronger and less prone to injury when playing sport, etc. So think yourself lucky swindontony!