As we continue to work with athletes, we always do an assessment with each one. We have to see what type of athlete we are working with and where the imbalances are. If you can correct those imbalances then chances are you will make a better athlete.

Lately, one of the bigger issues we see with our athletes is the lack of flexibility in the posterior, specifically the hamstrings. When bending over to touch their toes, they can barely get to their shins let alone the tops of their shoes.

Why is this??

Just the other day my 6 year old was trying to touch her toes and she was a good inch or two short. She’s young, isn’t she supposed to still be flexible and gummy like?

My own theory is that kids aren’t playing as often, playing like on the jungle gym, tag, etc. Thus they aren’t putting their bodies in positions that functionally are correct and working them in a range of motion that will help with flexibility.

If this flexibility isn’t improved, then it can lead to physical issues not just in their athletic career, but in their adult life as well. Tight hamstrings can hinder an athlete’s leg stride when they run. It can also lead to tightness all throughout the posterior that can cause lower back discomfort.

It might be as simple as to say stretch every day and stay loose, but you need to know what to stretch. Maybe the hamstrings are flexible, but the lumbar region is tight. Let an experienced professional assess you to figure out what you need to do to be flexible in all the right areas.

With the kids, get them playing at younger ages. They need to keep their limbs going in the range of motion their bodies were intended to move.  Don’t let this neglect catch up to them when they are older. Trust me, lower back pain is nothing you want to have.

Photo courtesy of Steven Pisano on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenpisano/