...is it possible that i physically can't do the front/back splits?

glitterhips started this discussion · 2/14/2011

I've been doing my stretches like a good girl and I am nearly there on my middle splits but have had some problems getting the front and back splits even though I've been stretching....my friend came over yesterday for a pole date and she's a former ballet dancer, I got down into my front and back splits and she noticed my hips weren't squared to the floor. I tried to square them and couldn't so she tried to move my hips into the right position and they just wouldn't go! WTF??? When I first started to stretch I was already well over halfway to my middles but super far from the front and backs. Is it just the way I'm put together? I'm disappointed because the front splits are so much more useful for pole moves and the middles aren't nearly as useful arggggghhhh! I'm super frustrated...does anyone know anything about this?!

10 replies

Riddleboxxy · 2/14/2011
I'm no expert at all, I'm actually a complete nub.. but the only thing I could suggest is.. more stretching lol Or maybe working on your hip flexors? Hope all goes well<33
Runemist34 · 2/14/2011
Though I'm not very well versed in flexibility training or bone structure, I have heard many times that some people simply cannot do the front splits. It has to do with the construction of the hips, I assume. Are you noticing that your hips are not squared when you stretch for the splits? Can you square them at ANY point while trying to achieve that position, even when knees are bent? And lastly, what kind of feeling did you have when your friend tried to correct you? Was it a pulling in either your bum or the front of your hip? Or did it feel like something inside was shoving against something else, but there was no pain? I tried to google it, but all I got were "How to do the front splits" and a bunch of other stupid stuff, and it wasn't very helpful. Perhaps some other people would know a little better than I.
glitterhips · 2/14/2011
Hmm that's a good question actually, I don't actually remember if it was painful when she tried to reposition my hips but I can have my bf try to do it for me to see if it hurt and also I will try to see if i can square them with my knees bent. I am texting fleur about it she knows all sorts of stuff like this but ugh i am so disappointed! :(
Aviva · 2/14/2011
Sure I suppose it's possible that you can physically do the front/back split. But I highly doubt it. I'm not sure how old you are but after a certain age it takes longer to get there. It also depends on where you start. Splits take time. Patience and time and dedication and the willingness to deal with the pain of extreme stretching is what it usually takes. Now, you may have suffered and injury that will set you back, but you didn't mention one so I'm going on the premise that your hips are perfectly healthy. After a certain age though stretching becomes like resistance training/weight lifting. You have to give your body rest in between stretch sessions just like you do with weight training. Don't give up you will get there eventually with enough time and persistance. Video is invaluable, you will be able to see your progress, just like writing down the weights and reps when you strength train.
Aviva · 2/14/2011
Meant to say physically can't in the first sentence and that I doubt that that is true. Do they have an edit on this thing?
Veena · 2/15/2011
Glitter....I was the same way when I was a kid (even now). As a child I could easily train myself to do a middle split but then one day a teacher asked if I could do the side splits. I tried and it felt impossible!! When I did finally manage a side split I always cheated by allowing my hip to open. I still rarely do a "squared" front split when dancing. Not squaring the hips in a split wont hurt you but its not "technically" correct. I do however focus on squaring my hips when I do flexibility training...When your doing splits training, if you don't have your hips squared you will not get a full a proper stretch though the hip flexors. When training for back bends and such having flexy hip flexors comes in handy!! So I personally think you can archive the front splits your just gonna have to take some time and train the front of the hip. You probably have great natural turn out! We can take a look at your middle splits in chat again sometime 🌸
amy · 2/15/2011
i think it's possible (i've been told by various medical professionals that eveyrone's body is different and some splits are just not possible for everyone), but what is more likely is that the amount of time that you would need to invest in getting a squared front split is disproportionate to the amount of time that you actually have to work on them. i've been working more on flexibility for the past three or four months. i've seen huge, huge gains in my hamstring flexilbility, and my lower back, but in that time, working a super square front split, i've seen no visible improvement- my hips are just really, really tight!
muffin85 · 2/15/2011
Veena~i'm the friend that was over yesterday and i am NO expert on the matter. But just from what i observed it sounds like her situation is very similar to yours! she is VERY close on her middle splits (and i even mentioned her great turn out, lol) but she def has difficulty squaring her hips for front splits. I'm sure since you had a similar issue u can help our friend glitter get her front splits 🙂
LizzyLiz810 · 2/24/2011
I am not flexible and normally I can not do any splits at all, but about a year ago, i was working out on a pilates reformer machine. I held a straddle position for about 15 minutes....afterwards, BAM! There were my splits. Everyone go try this!!!!! I had already been warmed up from cardio for about an hour.
heathalynne · 2/24/2011
Yes it's possible but when is really the question. Just means you have really tight hips and tight hamstrings. I agree with above, see if you can square your hips in a pigeon pose.