Hamstring Tendon mobilization

This post is a continuation from yesterdays on stretching out the hammies with a strap and while standing. More specifically, today's video demonstrates how to use a tennis ball on the tendons on either end. The goal is to anchor down one end and then to slowly stretch the muscle out against it. By doing so you can break up any restrictions in that junction where the muscle becomes tendon, as well as, in the tendon itself.

Key Points:

1) When trying to increase the pressure or stretch....lean forward at the waist. This doesn't mean curl the low back. This means keep your stomach tight, back straight, and push your chest forward (not touch your chin  to your knee like we were all taught in grade school). Even just a little chest out will help you rotate the hips forward and increase pressure on the tennis ball so go easy when doing this. A little goes a loooong way.

2) When doing a rep, slowly straighten the knee. You may not be able to straighten it all the way and that's okay. Just slowly move it through the motion you have, give it a second or two hold at the end, and then come back down. As your mobility improves, so will the amount of motion you have.

3) Try to perform 10-20 reps of each.

4) Same warm up rules apply. Try to do this either following a workout or warm up the area with the foam roller first. Especially if you're coming back from an injury or have cranky hamstrings! :)