Not enough flexibility and too much flexibility

[farzamk]

Most athletes you find at teenage years will be rather tight, what is this doing? It is holding back both stride frequency and peak stride length. As well keeping risk of injury pretty high as compared to a flexible athlete. main area of flexibility for a athlete involved in sports which involve running should be the hips.

For those who are tight and you know it, stretching daily for a month WILL improve performance in speed.

Now is there such a thing as being over flexible? Yes! This will vary among athletes however you will see many athletes who can do the splits, when they run it looks simply like they are striding through the race and moving in slow motion. That it just as bad equally as being tight. For thsoe athletes, simply stopping stretches and doing only dynamic stretches should be done as well as moving to exercises like squats and lunges which add the stiffness.

[sillz100]

What types of stretches and how long long to hold/reps do you recommend?

[farzamk]

What types of stretches and how long long to hold/reps do you recommend?

Sit and reach, kneeling lunge stretch, basically stretch every muscle, 1 set for 30 seconds is ideal. Post workout only and during the day, never before workouts.

[farzamk]

What types of stretches and how long long to hold/reps do you recommend?

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...#post121229271

[SpiderSense]

I suppose it could be a problem for sprinters.

But I don't see how you can be too flexible for any other sport.

[farzamk]

I suppose it could be a problem for sprinters.

But I don't see how you can be too flexible for any other sport.

Well it will hinder acceleration, depends all on the sport. Does a hockey goalie need to be able to do the splits? of course! Does a soccer player who plays defense need to? no... Does a gymnast need to?

[Fullback7]

what would you consider "too flexible", on the basic sit and reach test?

[farzamk]

what would you consider "too flexible", on the basic sit and reach test?

touching your heels easily, however the sit and reach is a lot of back flexibility as well, over flexibility is mostly bad when in hip/hamstring area.

[cncretecbwo]

so would you say i am too flexible in my hamstrings if i can put my palm on the floor while keeping my legs straight?

[farzamk]

so would you say i am too flexible in my hamstrings if i can put my palm on the floor while keeping my legs straight?

nope, that is a good level of hamstring/lower back flexibility, not too flexible.

[farzamk]

keep in mind this WILL vary from person to person, some may be able to do the splits and not run in slow mo type, some will, it varies. It's all about having enough flexibility to be able to extend through hips and do the sprint ROM properly and prevent injuries.

[farzamk]

Pretty good read: http://www.stadion.com/free/Repfree.pdf

[SpiderSense]

Well, regardless it would help with durability for sure. I'm not saying you have to do the splits. I'm saying that the flexibility is good though it may not have any real practical use in the sport.

An analogy of what you're saying is that a baseball player shouldn't lift weights. He never lifts anything heavier than a baseball bat.

[farzamk]

Well, regardless it would help with durability for sure. I'm not saying you have to do the splits. I'm saying that the flexibility is good though it may not have any real practical use in the sport.

An analogy of what you're saying is that a baseball player shouldn't lift weights. He never lifts anything heavier than a baseball bat.

No, flexibility and strength cannot be used together in a analogy like that. During a sprint, enough flexibility is required to allow for proper hip extension without being held back, like a mini hurdle on each stride.

A good level of flexibility is enough to prevent injuries, post workout muscle soreness and speed up muscle recovery inbetween workouts.

[Beastinthemakin]

welll i thought i may add that you weant to be really flexible in your achilles tendon. the more flexible it is the more it can absorb impact of the ground.Which is really helpful in sprinting.

[El_Padrino]

welll i thought i may add that you weant to be really flexible in your achilles tendon. the more flexible it is the more it can absorb impact of the ground.Which is really helpful in sprinting.

How do you stretch that?

Btw on the sit and reach i can put my full hand just past the foot.

[JTringer]

lmfao 6 months later!!!! farzamk will never die!!

[G-mane12]

lol i thought he was unbanned

[Fullback7]

Everyone including me put soo much emphasis in what he had to say.... Still can't believe he was a 14 year old kid

[canadianlb]

Everyone including me put soo much emphasis in what he had to say.... Still can't believe he was a 14 year old kid

Well with what he said in regards to being flexible in sport, it seems like he knew a great deal of what he was talking about.

[IronAbrams]

Well with what he said in regards to being flexible in sport, it seems like he knew a great deal of what he was talking about.

Say what ya will about the kid, but he did know some ****- even if it was all basically copy and pasted from other places on the internet.

Hell, I can't say that my base of knowledge is all that much different- except I don't make claims about being a 30 year old track coach who can bench 460 .

[Doyl888]

Say what ya will about the kid, but he did know some ****- even if it was all basically copy and pasted from other places on the internet.

Hell, I can't say that my base of knowledge is all that much different- except I don't make claims about being a 30 year old track coach who can bench 460 .

holy **** dude... u bumpin this i though he was back

[finfan]

Say what ya will about the kid, but he did know some ****- even if it was all basically copy and pasted from other places on the internet.

Hell, I can't say that my base of knowledge is all that much different- except I don't make claims about being a 30 year old track coach who can bench 460 .

You can't say that he knew his stuff because most of his stuff was backed up by "results from his athletes".....