Too flexible to stretch

redemptionsongs started this discussion · 10/9/2010

Does anyone else have this problem, and how do you combat it? I always try to stretch after my workouts (both poling and my weight training), but have problems actually getting a stretch. I have always been super flexible, I have a hypermobility disorder. Side splits don't let me feel a stretch (I don't have middle splits, problem with my pelvis), I have to hyperextend to feel any type of stretch. I try to stretch my back by laying on the floor and rotating my body, but there is only so far I can go. The only muscle that I can feel a stretch in is my right quad and IT band and that is because of a major surgery. Any tips on stretching? I don't want to stretch for flexibility, but to prevent muscle soreness after a hard workout.

7 replies

FreeTheSun · 10/10/2010
Do you mean side as in one leg front one leg back? Cause if you do you might just need to be working on oversplits. This gal in my old synchro team had had perfect flat splits for years and never felt a stretch so coach put books under her feet to put her in slight oversplits and she was shocked to find she felt a stretch. For a back twist you could kneel facing away from your pole and twist back towards it and use the pole to push you a bit further than you would be able to go on the floor. Technically you can do this standing but it bothers some people's knees to twist like that. But overall I think if you work on engaging the muscels while you're in the stretch that you might find you feel it more. I have somewhat hypermobile shoulders and that is the only way I feel anything with them. Just a thought, I'm sure some of the more knowledgable ladies out there might have a better idea of what to do.
MilienElayne · 10/10/2010
Maybe look up contortion moves and make sure you're doing the stretches with the correct form. Sometimes you can do what you think the stretch is and it's easy, but as soon as you square up or flatten out properly you feel it a lot. I'd also speak to a physio or other specialist familiar with hypermobility just to check what you plan to do is ok. I have pretty good oversplits on one side (one leg front, one leg back), but I get into it by relaxing everything in my hips and hamstrings and can do it cold, which doesn't stretch me. I agree that you could find resistance stretching (where you tense, I think? Look it up, maybe?) better. One stretch for my hammies that I find works me is the one where you put both legs together (slightly apart so your head and body has somewhere to go) extended sitting down with feet flexed and trying to keep my back flat, butt out and legs straight while easing my chest and tummy onto the floor. I really can't do it (may be that my 'bad' side hammy is nowhere near flat splits? lol). Also the one where you stand with legs apart and flatten your back and try to stick your head directly between your feet and maybe touching the floor. If it's easy wide you can always make it less so. It's also a good one to swing from side to side in to focus on each leg individually, this also stretches me more. There are also stretches for different parts of some longer muscles, I have problems with the upper hamstring, others find less flexibility nearer to the knee, so maybe looking into that would help? Hope I helped... and not confused you 😛
redemptionsongs · 10/11/2010
yes, I mean one leg front, one leg back. I just tried oversplits using a ream of printer paper and it did help me get a stretch. I cannot kneel (long surgical scar), but will try twisting on the pole standing up. I'll try looking up some contortion moves. Thanks!
joni1 · 10/11/2010
OH how I wish I had you girls problem. 😮 Being so flexible that you don't feel a stretch would be amazing problem to have. 🥂
FreeTheSun · 10/12/2010
I've never used these but they seem to have some good info for contortion. http://www.contortionhomepage.com/training.html http://members.fortunecity.com/tchb1/ I do the twist standing too but I have friends who have complained that it tweeks thier knees.
redemptionsongs · 10/12/2010
Oh wow, from one of the contortion pages: # that if you suffer from hyper mobility or other health issues like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is a disorder of the connective tissue, you will most likely get results much quicker than a healthy person, but at the same time feel less of the symptoms. If you or other members of your family have suffered from one or many dislocations you’re most likely having similar health issues and should learn to do controlled dislocations and fully master the exercise schedule. How people are built also decides how far it's possible to go or how much, but most can do all of the exercises. Many times it only means that it will take longer to learn to do some things while others come easily. Most important is to practice daily. For me practicing yoga and contortion sport has meant stopping the progress of EDS completely with all of it's symptoms. I have EDS and have suffered from it from the time I was 8 years old, with more than a hundred dislocations and finally a major, major knee surgery. Stretching is not something that my orthopedic surgeon or physical therapist ever recommended as a way to prevent symptoms. I have no desire to do controlled dislocations, but stretching to avoid more EDS related injury could be a good thing.
Angel1201 · 10/14/2010
What type of EDS do you have? I suspect I have type 2 or 3. I am waiting for my dr appt. in November to be sure. I have neurally mediated hypotension and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and I've read that EDS and NMH can be linked. I black out several times a day when I stand up and have chronic fatigue syndrome. I am also very flexible, my fingers and toes bend backwards and my thumbs can touch my forearms. Luckily I don't have dislocations but I do have very stretchy skin. Be careful girl! Maybe you need to wear a brace while you are stretching...