Slide show: A guide to 10 basic stretches

• Slides:
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11

Hamstring stretch

Your hamstring muscle runs along the back of your upper leg. To stretch your hamstring muscles:

• Lie on the floor near the outer corner of a wall or a door frame.
• Raise your left leg and rest your left heel against the wall. Keep your left knee slightly bent.
• Gently straighten your left leg until you feel a stretch along the back of your left thigh.
• Hold for about 30 seconds.
• Switch legs and repeat.
• As your flexibility increases, maximize the stretch by gradually scooting yourself closer to the wall or door frame.

1. Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 4, 2011.
2. Montico MP, et al. Injury prevention. In: McKeag DB, et al. ACSM's Primary Care Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007:133.
3. Woods K, et al. Warm-up and stretching in the prevention of muscular injury. Sports Medicine. 2007;37:1089.
4. Beedle BB, et al. No difference in pre- and postexercise stretching on flexibility. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2007;21:780.