SUGGESTED STRETCHES
The correct form for several basic stretches is shown at the right. Move slowly as you
1. Toe Touch Stretch | 1 |
Stand with your knees bent slightly and slowly bend forward from | |
your hips. Allow your back and shoulders to relax as you reach |
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down toward your toes as far as possible. Hold for 15 counts, |
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then relax. Repeat 3 times. Stretches: Hamstrings, back of knees, |
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and back. |
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2. Hamstring Stretch |
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Sit with one leg extended. Bring the sole of the opposite foot | 2 |
toward you and rest it against the inner thigh of your extended | |
leg. Reach toward your toes as far as possible. Hold for 15 |
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counts, then relax. Repeat 3 times for each leg. Stretches: |
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Hamstrings, lower back, and groin. |
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3. Calf/Achilles Stretch |
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With one leg in front of the other, reach forward and place your |
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hands against a wall. Keep your back leg straight and your back |
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foot flat on the floor. Bend your front leg, lean forward and move | 3 |
your hips toward the wall. Hold for 15 counts, then relax. Repeat | |
3 times for each leg. To cause further stretching of the achilles |
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tendons, bend your back leg as well. Stretches: Calves, achilles |
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tendons, and ankles. | 4 |
4. Quadriceps Stretch | |
With one hand against a wall for balance, reach back and grasp |
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one foot with your other hand. Bring your heel as close to your |
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buttocks as possible. Hold for 15 counts, then relax. Repeat 3 |
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times for each leg. Stretches: Quadriceps and hip muscles. |
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5. Inner Thigh Stretch |
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Sit with the soles of your feet together and your knees outward. |
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Pull your feet toward your groin area as far as possible. Hold for |
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15 counts, then relax. Repeat 3 times. Stretches: Quadriceps and | 5 |
hip muscles. |
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