The Science of Hamstring Flexibility – Anatomy & Training Techniques

After years being told I wasn’t able to do a forward fold and touch my toes because I had tight hamstrings, a yoga teacher suggested I incorporate a stretch that focuses on the lower, outside portion of my back. I stretch both sides and immediately get inches closer to my toes. My hamstrings were being sufficiently stretched all this time. My lower back was not.

can we all appreciate that he ripped out his hamstring just to teach us how it works

I'm freaking confused with all the flexibility guys online. Some tells you active stretching is superior to passive, others tells exact opposite. Some are telling me 2-5 minutes in a pose, others say 30seconds but for 6 - 12 reps. And all of you guys say it's based on science and add some research papers. I'm not a scientist, I don't know how to read that papers, all I wanna know is how to reach splits more efficiently. After one year of stretching at least 5 times a weak for one hour, I made good progress, but I'm still not at the ground and I start to get a little impatient....

I absolutely adore how you get straight to the point with valuable information and no affectation. Your video on hamstrings has already helped me. Thank you. I can already feel the improvements occur through relaxation during the 4-minute pose.

Your videos are excellent Lucas. A real lesson in clarity and great video production. The content for yoga and health is a bonus. I really enjoy both the very useful content and the quality of production. A rare thing. Well done!

Science of stretching is good, I have it. I’d call it stretching that is intense as strength training. Make sure to start out using the modifications instead of jumping right into the full stretches. Most of us should focus at least as much on flexibility as strength training, if not even more. Work your weakness, especially most men who functionally need more flexibility, but they’re spending all their time on strength training at the gym instead.

Very few videos explain the science behind everything they do, hope you keep up the noble work! Very informative and helpful, i am grateful

Brazil here! The breathing technique works like a charm. I can feel the relaxation during the last seconds of each round

I've also heard of glute amnesia where your glute muscles go to sleep and leave all the work to the hamstrings which become over worked and tight. Great video.

Wow! What a professional & creatively produced channel. Most definitely an unexpected birthday present this 12th day of June that I'll share with others.

So simple, yet there are many ways to learn. Great video, one of the best I've seen here. Thanks.

Perfect material for where I'm at Lucas. Thank you!

I heard you mention that hamstring tightness is partially in your head, so I stood up, relaxed and told myself exactly that, and reached down and touched my toes extremely easily. No lie. It was the weirdest thing.

Excellent video Lucas! Specially when you pulled your muscle out to explain something about it. This was so unexpected yet really caught my attention! Well done!

First video of yours I've seen. Love the simple yet scientific approach to stretching. Now I know why, ever since high school, stretching never seemed to work for me. 10min video fundamentally changed how I view/approach stretching. Thank you

I love your content Lucas, it's wall made, very concise, and well explained, while being relaxing and follow along. Can't do much better ! There is although the fact that no single mobility educator on YouTube or elsewhere says the same thing about stretching poses duration, or even relative importance of active vs passive mobility training. I appreciate the precisions you make here but still. I decided to go to research paper directly to make my own views, and they kind of contradict themselves too on optimal duration. Isn't then it a wrong statement you make about science of stretching being clear and resolved toward 2-5mn duration ? I tried to download your PDF to find studies reference but couldn't find any. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against your approach, I even found great benefices trying your way, and incorporated it in my mobility practice. But stating such clarity on what is best might be deceptive if it's not. I wouldn't stop appreciating your content with a more nuanced approach, clearly outlining what's scientifically validated vs what are you beliefs on the topics (which I'm happy to consider!). Cheers mate

The “too fast or too stretched” alarm might help to explain the phenomenon of sprinters vs distance runners in terms of flexibility. Distance runners don’t generate as much force per stride, as they train for endurance, so their muscles are not contracting as quickly. A sprinter does just the opposite: fast strides and more power for shorter bursts. I will be incorporating these flexibility concepts into my routine to see if I can get quicker, more powerful function by increasing flexibility. Thanks for the awesome insight into alternative training.

Passive is quick, but effective for only a very short time and does very little to affect actual change in range of motion. Standing up from the stretching position will do more.

Thanks for all your Videos - especially the hamstring Videos. I've been doing daily stretches for several weeks now before going to bed and slowly see some improvement. It's still a long way to go before I can do a proper forward fold but I try to keep myself motivated and keep going 🎉

I had trouble remembering which is medial and lateral rotation forever, but for anybody that was ever into the music of Tool, I just had a light go on in my head: In Lateralus, towards the end and the dramatic peak of the song, Keenan repeatedly belts out "Spiral out!", as in "outward rotation"