If hamstring stretching exercises are painful, or impossible, I hope the following can give you some tips.
Myofascial release is achieved by relieving muscle tension, and fascial tension.
The fascia is the wrapping that goes around and connects the muscle groups in the body.
If this fascia, which has the quality of plastic wrap, or a cobweb like wrapping, has experienced impact or tearing, it is no longer slippery but has become abrasive and sticky on its surfaces.
Repetitive stretching will not necessarily help get you more flexible.
Often this tight hamstring condition is accompanied by low back pain.
Regardless of the flexibility normally experienced in the low back, it will be compromised by myofascial tension coming from the hamstrings.
Believe it or not, I recommend that you learn to release myofascial tension starting at the scalp and neck muscles.
The reason for this is, studies have shown that releasing fascia from the top down, is what works the best.
For instance, leading dance medicine specialist Lisa Howell shows that when a dance student who wants do the splits, she or he gets more flexible by relieving the tension in the scalp and neck.
Then the legs will separate toward the splits more, and the hamstring will be more stretchy.
Why?
Because the fascia is one big connected wrap.
Your hamstrings are tight.
So tight that you get a pull up into your low back.
Yet I am saying go up further in the body and learn a simple massage and some simple resistance stretches for neck and shoulder area.
Then, add a simple to learn and easy to do hamstring stretch.
One that you can do before during and after walking or doing an intense workout.
To support your goal to get more flexible in your hamstrings, and relieve your low back pain, you can also learn a simple to perform stretch for your hip area.
Such as sitting on a chair and it is easy. Again you can do it before exercise, just very gently, suggesting to your muscles that they relax a little.
After a workout and you are very warmed up, you can repeat the same hip stretch with a little more effort.
Just as you do a gentle hamstring stretch before exercising, now you will also do one with more effort to stretch out the muscles.
Stretching out the low back muscles is a side bend type of stretch.
Once learned, you will do it gently before exercising, and then more vigorously afterward.
To get more sore muscles relief, you may also decide to learn a routine with a sports or pinkie ball.
Learning simple massage techniques, gently applied, is a handy knowledge to have.
Sometimes you just cannot find the time or extra cash for a professional therapeutic massage.
A visual professional demonstration is best to learn these stretches proficiently and are available.
As you practice good stretching exercises frequently, you will get the benefit you desire from your hamstring stretching exercises.
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