Hamstring stretching?

Question

When I try to stretch my hamstrings without bending my knees, I feel pain in the back of my knees, and I can't go down far enough to feel any stretching in the hamstrings themselves. What's going on?

Answer 1

I don't think it is strange at all for you to feel the stretch where you are feeling it. You are probably feeling the insertions of the hamstrings tendons as they attach to the lower leg. You may have some additional myofascial tightness in the tissues there (not just hamstrings tightness). This probably needs to be stretched/mobilized as well.

Try this: lie on your back, and flex your hip to 90 degrees (thigh is vertical). Slowly straighten your knee until a stretch or restriction is felt. This is a position where you will bring tension to bear on the hamstrings. If you feel your same pain in the back of your knees, well, then that is where the tightness is.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Don't stretch so much the first time. If you're doing this prior to running, than try to increase how far you go down gradually over a couple of weeks. Also you could do some hamstring stretches sitting with you legs out at approximately 90 degrees. Good luck.

Answer 3

it could be a few things, u could have a hurt ligaments but lets hope not. U might have just over worked them, or they arent used to being stretched, or even they might just need to be warmed up. You should keep stretching, and try different stretches for your hamstring. Try this, sit on the floor. put one of your foot on your other legs' knee, (it should make a triangle) slowly bend your leg to your chest ( the leg that is extend with the foot resting on it) . that should stretch out ur hamstring with out puttin pressure on the back of ur knee.