Tight Hamstrings? Don't Stretch, Do This Instead

[ORnurse]

I know this video is several years old, but I was doing a YouTube search on something to help my left hamstring issue. It had been chronic for 2 years! I am an advid long distance trail runner and road and tried everything. Then, I came across this video and did it 3 days in a row before I went on my next long run and WOW! It truly works! The kinetic chain from our feet on up is absolutely amazing to me!! My left hamstring would bother me on the hill repeats days and fast pick ups, but not anymore!! Thank you so much for having this video! Now I feel even more ready for my Sedona Race Feb 5!

Happy feet, happy hams!
Marie :)

[MrClanga]

I have been trying to get rid of hamstring tightness for months. Massage, Chiro, probably too much (and incorrect) stretching. I have had plantar fasciitis in the past and used a Strassbourg sock a lot to help. I know Jill doesn't explain exactly why it it worked for me!! I ran 30km yesterday and 10km today. Obviously my hamstrings were tight again, and my feet sore. I could actually feel part of my left hamstrings 'quiver' and release while using the ball. My left leg feels better now than it has in over six months.
For me this will become a daily routine.
Gotta love Youtube. Sometimes you just stumble across the answer.
Thanks heaps Jill.

[RichRedman]

I am a middle-aged, overweight, runner and I just came across this video. Tried the technique when I got home tonight, and the results were amazing to me. Knots and tension in my hamstrings that I'd stopped noticing were looser. This one is going in my toolkit. Thank you, Jill.

[wayneparker]

I learned this trick five years ago when I started Crossfit and discovered how tight my hamstrings really were. I'd come back from a class and after my body cooled down I'd have lower back pain so bad I could hardly walk. When I mentioned this to an instructor, he did a diagnostic test of my flexibility and noted I had mobility problems galore, including really tight hamstrings that resulted in lower back pain and plantar fasciitis. Rather than a tennis ball he advised using a lacrosse ball as the latter is firm enough to resist your weight while soft enough to avoid being painful. But she nailed the way you roll the ball under the foot from the point under the toes to the arch and all the way to the heel. I usually do each foot for a solid 3-5 minutes after getting home from class and it makes a world of difference in avoiding or diminishing any pain after I cool down from a stiff workout. You can also roll on the ball placed below your lower back on the floor and it will also help.

[kevinw]

Worked 80 hours this week and helped a friend move this morning. The hamstring in my left leg was so tight I couldn't bend my knee. Tried this one time and it Worked! Thanks!

[DELAWAREBOWHUNTER]

I’ve had tight quads and hams for 45 years of my 73 year life. Used to race dirt bikes and play softball extensively. Leg cramps, massages, stretching, pickle juice, etc. etc. etc. never in 1 million years would I believe something so simplistic could be so effective.! This is without a doubt the most informative and interesting video!❤

[johnnnewmex]

I used to do this after my 12 hour shifts at the hospital because my feet hurt so bad. It made my feet feel so much better and really relaxed me.

[sacredrose]

Hi! I just wanted to thank you for this, I have been miserable for years with tight hamstrings affecting knees and getting worse, doctors were useless! this fixed it in thirty seconds! life is so much better thanks to this technique thankyou!

[tomwgibson]

This worked perfectly for me. I don't care how or why. Thanks Jill!

[philipschwarz]

Wow!! I've had tight hamstrings for most of my life. I'm in
my 70's now and I've had problems hiking for years. This past winter it started
impacting my cross country skiing. I was almost to the point of thinking I
would have to give up the things I love doing. I have been to physical therapy
a number of times but it didn't really help. I decided to look on the internet
and see if I could find a stretching exercise that would work. I ran across
this video and thought it didn't make any sense but decided to give it a try.
Two days later I decided to take a hike and started walking at a fast pace to
see how long it would take my hamstring to tighten up. It didn't. I hiked 4
miles without any problems. I've since resumed pain free hiking.

[designnorth]

"I know it sounds crazy but for some reason it works" the words of an expert

[kathrynludrick]

It does work. I just did it and the pain in my left calf, which I've had for days, stopped. Thank you!

[nikoff]

thank you Jill! i have had a hamstring injury and always feel tight, i felt immediate relief after doing this. :)

[transformwtc]

for those of you who question the validity of this treatment modality i would suggest you read Tom Myers and understand the Myofascial Meridian lines. Great post Jill.

[Jivolt]

I do this with lacrosse balls. Works wonders! I'm a barefoot runner and the techniques in this video not only help leg muscles, but also keep my muscles and fascia in my feet nice and loosened up so that they perform the way they should... AND pain free.

[gilbertramirezpt]

Hi, If you apply this type of pressure to your plantar fascia, I believe you will stretch it releasing some of it's arch supporting function. As a long distance runner some 40 years ago, after doing this as you suggested, I felt some of my old foot pains in the heel. I do think that this is an interesting technique but I would caution people to start seated and see if it helps before "putting all the pressure you can" onto that ball. I have flat feet as a child so I don't have much to lose in my arch. I'm a Physical Therapist and LMT, and that's my two cents. I would suggest a number of techniques to gain HS mobility. I wouldn't stop stretching. Add some helper PNF, warm up the muscle with external heat, stretch in a whirlpool, stretch in a pool with less body weight, stretch with come connective tissue massaging, release some trigger points. Eventually, the HS will elongate. But stretching will have to be done everyday to maintain gains.

[jburghau]

Thank you. This and foot stretches and strengthening finally relieved my pain from a hamstring tear that lingered for 10 years. Excellent video.

[michaelturi]

I can't believe how much this hurt. I searched the internet for relieve of my leg tightness and found your YouTube video. I haven't slept throughout the night in decades. I always need to get up and stretch because the legs are so tight. My girlfriend thanks you also.

[AbaddonOfSheol]

It actually worked for me ! Thanks Jill.

[dipan]

In my opinion While applying pressure on the ball,
Tibia bone moves forward slightly, which in turns to relieve tightness in posterior capsule of knees .
In addition, calf (gastrocnemius) is a secondary knee flexor, and by pressing a ball It contracts isometrical, which further helps in to relieve tightness of the calf.
And finally, this position which again produce isometric contraction of quadriceps and helps to relieve tightness in hamstring .
Thus the Range in knee bending (flexing) improves ...