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Never. Couldn't do it at gym class when I was 8, still can't.
Can get *close* if I try for ages but it bloody hurts.
Yup, palms flat on the floor after warming up (29, 38" waist, 16st-something)
About the only part of me that is flexible, I can only wash my back with one hand!
I can with a bit of warming up - used to get my palms on the floor in my martial art days.
Someone commented the other week about how low I can get on my road bike - not sure if I'm at the Fizik snake level though. Well I use an Arione and am comfortable on that so perhaps I am.
What helps with getting low on a road bike? I've got my saddle set up in the usual way (leg straight with heels on pedals, kneecap over the axle), and my bars aren't exactly low, but if I drop my forearms less than 45deg from horisontal then my knees hit my ribs?
I presume Pro's have the saddle much higher and further forward? But any movement away from my current position gives knee pain.
If there genuinely is a health benefit to being stretchy and limber how is it being addressed? I wonder if its perhaps part of some sort of covert public health strategy that shoe shops put the small shoes on the top shelf and the big shoes at the bottom
Signed Maccruiskeen - 6'6", size 13 feet and barely able to reach my shins.
In a random youtube bouncing around, this video came up about touching toes. I have always blamed the tight hamstrings, but following this I was about to touch them!
Found it interesting that apparently the hamstrings tightening is the way to protect your back...
I can't even get close. My 2 year old saw me stretching the other day and started mocking me.
"Don't worry Daddy - keep practicing and you'll get there."
Thanks son, but I suspect I really won't! He then did the standing up and down with no hands just to rub it in my face.
Honestly seeing how a child moves is a real eye-opener as to how inflexible I am.
I can, at the end of a load of stretching... TBH my back and right leg are kind of fubbered so I don't know if it's just that. Stretching can get me down there but it doesn't last.
TBH the only time this has ever felt like a problem, was playing the cornflake box game.
Yes. Can make a fist and place my knuckles on the floor... No leg bending. 32“ waist.
i used to be able to get my palms flat on the floor when i was younger
then at one point id struggle to get my fingertips to touch my toes....but training at the karate dojo helped sort that out so i can get my knuckles on the floor
however it takes me much longer to straighten up
39 years old with a 32" waist
[i]keep practicing and you'll get there.[/i]
Wise word mate (er, boy)!
I never could, then when I had plantar fasciwotsit the phsio gave me stretches to do.
I'm so scared of the sore heel thing coming back I still do a lot of the stretches, one of which involves stretching the hamstrings with a stretchy band round my foot. After doing this daily for well over a year now, I can touch me toes, no problem.
I say "no problem" but actually it bloody kills my back!
and this...
[i]I saw a thing on TV the other day that was saying that if you are only in your 40's and cannot sit cross legged then stand up from this position without assistance or using your own hands for support, you should really take a good look at yourself.[/i]
When i was in my 40s I could jump to standing from a kneeling position. Now, due to farked knees, I have to hold on to something to get up from a crouch 🙁
I saw a thing on TV the other day that was saying that if you are only in your 40's and cannot sit cross legged then stand up from this position without assistance or using your own hands for support, you should really take a good look at yourself.
I'm 48, 30" waist, just under 70kg. I'd be interested in what way I need to take 'a good look at myself.
Not being able to touch your toes is as much use as bmi as an indicator of fitness and general health.
Can you touch your toes?
Yes, I can without bending my knees.
When i was in my 40s I could jump to standing from a kneeling position. Now, due to farked knees, I have to hold on to something to get up from a crouch
My coach used to make me do these....
Never tried a weighted one...
Nope, never have been able to even as a kid. According to our team osteo I'm 'the wrong shape'.
Standing up from cross-legged and back down again is a piece of cake though!
My coach used to make me do these....
I'm dead good that - but I cut out the warm up of the kneeling and weights and just go straight for the whooping, strutting and pointing.
and just go straight for the whooping, strutting and pointing.
yep, he was pretty pleased with himself. Mind you, so would I be. Can't even squat BW at the moment due to Tendonopathy....
Just, but takes some time
Start at comfortable position and stretch to point of tension
Back off and just stay still breathing deeply
Body will relax and you naturally go past previous point
Repeat above until floor is reached
Stand up, slightly amazed at how this works 😉
+1
with 'Keva'
yup I can, but there again Im only 5'4" so they're not very far away.
But I'm 67 🙂
Yes, with palms flat on the floor and arms bent.
yes.
Yes, can get up,crossed legged too - 52!
Yep - can get my hands flat on the floor. Since incorporating stretching into my daily life , I've had far less injuries/strains etc...
Interesting reading replies above - I never knew some people would never be able to because of their shape...is that really true?
Can't do palms on the floor anymore, but can still manage backs of hands (just checked). Oh can do the cross legged standup thingy too. Age 62 if anyone's counting.
Not a chance. Have never come close in all my 49 years. Plenty flexible too but just cannot get down past my shins.... correction. Just tried and flats of hands rest on kneecaps 🙁
I know if I work on it I can improve on that but never to the point of reaching my toes
Touching my toes, even when much younger, much fitter and much lighter, was tough. Naturally not very flexible. But with training could regularly get knuckles on the floor.
Because I work away from home and am also very restricted in the volume and intensity of exercise I'm permitted to do, I took up yoga. After week one I'd injured my hamstrings so much I was walking like John Wayne. But gradually the long lost ability started to come back. However work has meant I have been unable to keep up with the class.
My guess is that the state of my knees and my current excess weight mean that standing from a cross legged position isn't going to happen. However, when I get home from work tonight I'll give it a try and report back.
Whats up with you lot, reading this walking the dogs, paused touched toes (mine) no strain carried on, no problemo.
If you cant I would get round the doctors or someone and get a nee job if thats the cause.
Last time I tried I could. Can't imagine anything has changed in 40 years.
No(middle of shins), been halfheartedly trying to improve it for a while. Going to the gym and foam rolling helped but I never really got into a stretching routine. Stretching, yoga and Pilates are all things in the I must do someday list. I did used to be able to when I was training kung fu many years ago even box splits and wotnot.
I do wonder if an all round flexibilty will help on the bike, just being able to move about with a bit more ease. Or even being more comfortable getting your heels down. Not sure what real world range of motion you need or if the ability to go beyond it helps. Any thoughts?
Did you give yourself a self-satisfied pat on the back wilburt?
I'm 39, so trying to avoid any joint surgery until essential - not keen on adding arthritis to my list of ailments.
Quick try on getting home - 3 inches off touching my toes and no chance I can stand from crossed legs. But I've now got a challenge!!
Not sure what being 39 has to do with it, if you've got a disability your excused from duty soldier but other wise pucker up.
I can cos I just tried it, no bendy knees either.
59, 29" legs & a fat git. Could chew my own toenails when I was 20 which was handy at times.
Could chew my own toenails when I was 20 which was handy at times.
i used to get told off for this when I was a teenager. I can still do it if I really want to. So I can contort and get my feet in my mouth, but cant bend to touch my toes..
I tried standing up from cross legged, and managed it easily enough on carpet, but the biggest issues are being able to swing forwards enough to get over my feet but also the amount of weight on the outside of my feet.
If you cant I would get round the doctors or someone and get a nee job if that's the cause.
Go to the doctor because you can't touch your toes. How ridiculous.
[i]nee job@[/i] new job? knee job? Don't need the former, had the latter although I don't think knees come into the equation.
Maybe smugness assists in toe touching, maybe you bend right over a lot more than me, who knows.
Maybe smugness assists in toe touching
Quite possibly and it leads to a very pleasant sense of hubris afterwards.
What helps with getting low on a road bike? I've got my saddle set up in the usual way (leg straight with heels on pedals, kneecap over the axle), and my bars aren't exactly low, but if I drop my forearms less than 45deg from horisontal then my knees hit my ribs?I presume Pro's have the saddle much higher and further forward? But any movement away from my current position gives knee pain.
I'm on a TCR and knees nowhere near my chest, seems your chest is more bountiful than mine 🙂