Stretching tips.

[utility91]

what are some ways I can stretch my hamstrings without hurting my lower back. It's a weakness I have. any Ideas

[CoachB25]

First, jog or "heat up" before you stretch. Strecthing cold muscles is not good. Next, don't "bounce" on your muscles. We like to have stretches be approximately a count of 4 and relax. The best hammy stretch I know of where you shouldn't hurt your back is to go find an chair or whatever about waist high. Put your leg up there and then slowly attempt to put your nose on your knee.

[Go Cardinals]

Buy dvds from John Doyle's website. All of his material is REALLY REALLY GOOD!!!

Get the warm-up dvd. Also, Diamonds has *some* good stuff on stretching. Diamonds has more of a detailed description on range of motion. Although it doesn't tell you how to do it (in extreme detail), it gives you a general details and a great understanding about it. Anyone involved in any working out at all, I would reccomend reading Diamonds first. To me, its the Bible of the off season.

[slugger33]

Here are some stretches: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/stretches.php?MainMuscle=Hamstrings

[jofus13]

Maybe you need to exercise your hammies a little.

Try something similar to this if you have access to an exercise ball...but a warning, it doesn't take very many to make your hamstrings sore the next couple days when you first start out.

http://www.onlinefit.com/getfit/index.cfm?action=exercise&exerciseId=381