Numbness or tingling feeling in the lower inner thigh

Sazzie started this discussion · 10/14/2013

Any one experience numbness in the lower thighs (near the knees) inner portion of the leg when doing stretching? I feel this especially when doing butterfly stretches (the stretch when you're sitting down and your leg is shape like a diamond and you lean forward)? I'm wondering if this is something I should be worried about or just a nerve getting stretched?

7 replies

Runemist34 · 10/14/2013
I used to get a similar sensation when I was trying to stretch my hamstrings... and didn't know that I was overstretching them! I would say to ease off- you're probably pushing them too far. You may be pressing down on a nerve or possibly a blood vessel (hence the numbness) by stretching those muscles too far, and not giving it all enough room to breathe. It takes time to get used to the sensation you're looking for! I still push too hard sometimes, and it is often different for every person...I even find that certain areas of my body feel different when I'm in that "sweet spot" for stretching. Really, we shouldn't be stretching any nerves, tendons, or ligaments. Those don't (or shouldn't) bear weight like muscles do. Closest I've ever heard is the ITB getting stretched, and that is a TOTALLY different feeling and purpose from stretching muscles. That one is on the outsides of the legs, and generally isn't worried about ;)
Sazzie · 10/14/2013
Thanks for your reply! :) Funny thing is, it helps when doing the inside leg hang as I don't feel much pain in the my skin anymore. Lol! I just recently started doing flex for middle splits when I noticed that and I think I've become paranoid and started noticing pain in my knee caps as well when I do a straddle stretch. Maybe I am pushing it a bit too far. Maybe focus now is on the back first :-) I really have bad flexibility
Saphyre · 10/15/2013
Hi Sazzie. I have similar issues with that area when I stretch. For me, it's scar tissue of some sort, so my massage therapist has told me. My hamstrings are ready to go, but that little area just inside the knee and my knee area in general say, "No way"! There are a couple of things I do to help it out. If you have a foam roller, that is the best thing ever! In lieu of that, just massage the area by hand. I do this after I've already been stretching for about 10-15 minutes. Massaging the area starts out a little uncomfortable, but eases up after about 10 minutes. Take it slow and steady, and do not push the stretch if it continues to be uncomfortable. I find that it takes a good hour before I am ready to stretch deeper, but I do get there. It is going to take a while before this issue starts to lessen, and I am prepared to wait. Good luck and whatever you do, take it easy!
Sazzie · 10/15/2013
Thanks Saphyr! I just discovered about the benefits of foam roller after reading the other posts here. Good thing the husband has got one and I will start using them from now on. Will update this thread again after I try it. Thanks again
portableninja · 10/15/2013
I asked this same question during a flexibility workshop with an aerialist. She said tingling is normal/expected when you're stretching to your limit in an effort to gain flexibility. This is different from gentle stretching to maintain flexibility. It's like when a part of your body falls asleep when a nerve gets compressed. Pain is not OK, but a pins-and-needles feeling is to be expected if the area is very tight, because you are putting pressure on the nerves during the stretch. The important thing is that the tingling stops as soon as you release the stretch. If it doesn't, something else may be up. Another red flag is radiation (where the tingling happens in a different part of your body than what you're stretching, like in the legs while you're stretching your back.) Foam rolling will help to loosen the muscles and put less pressure on the nerves. A deep tissue massage of my hip flexors and psoas also made a world of difference for me.
Skullpixie · 10/16/2013
I get the same thing happening to me!! I'm glad you posted this :) I know now not to worry and I have just started using the foam roller on my muscles. I discovered it by signing up to veena's lessons I love my roller it's great !
Sazzie · 10/17/2013
Thanks portable ninja! I tried foam roLling yesterday and it is painful when the I rolled it into the spot where it's numb. It sounds contradicting that it's painful but numb! LOL! :) the skin or the top part of it has a numb feeling but not totally sensation-free but when you press the foam roller into it, there is a lot of tension and this is for both legs. I will do it more often and see whether foam rollers can make the pain and numbness go away. Thanks to studio veena for introducing foam rollers to me! :) :) :)