Understanding the difference between dynamic and static stretching is essential for improving muscle elasticity and preventing injury. Discover targeted stretches for tight hamstrings and learn how to safely relieve a stiff neck or heel cord tension.
Due to sedentary lifestyles, many people experience pain and stiffness in their sacral area. It's the region that's located in your lower back, starting at your tailbone and spanning up to where your lumbar begins at the L5 vertebra.
Read more →
Your psoas is a large muscle that's attached to vertebrae in your low back on one end and the top of your thigh bone on the other. The psoas, also called the hip flexor, is responsible for flexion in your hip and thigh. A tight psoas muscle can cause problems in your low back and hip area.
Read more →
The SI joint, or sacroilial joint, is located between your sacrum and ilium, which is the middle bone of your pelvis below the sacrum. It functions as a shock absorber and helps stabilize your body during movement. Therefore, the SI joint provides little movement in flexion and extension of your pelvis and lower spine.
Read more →
Improving flexibility and range of motion can be as important to your overall fitness as strengthening your muscles; flexible muscles are more agile and less prone to injury.
Read more →
Back pain can be a result of chronic overuse, poor posture or an acute injury. If the pain is a result of acute or sudden injury, a medical professional should be sought before attempting to rehab your injury.
Read more →
The back of your lower leg is a complex muscle group that requires regular stretching exercises, especially if you participate in a sport that requires a lot of running.
Read more →
A torn labral can be treated both nonsurgically or with surgery, depending on the extent of the tear. In either case, stretching exercises are an important part of the rehabilitation process. The labrum is cartilage that surrounds the hip joint, which is a ball and socket joint.
Read more →
Your quadriceps are a group of four muscles that sit in the front of your thigh. Your quad muscles include the vastus medialis, intermedius, lateralis and rectus femoris. The main function of your quadriceps is to straighten your leg. Keeping your quads flexible will help you avoid tightness that leads to injury.
Read more →
The tailbone, also known as the coccyx, is a small bone at the bottom of your spine or backbone. Coccyx problems can cause pain in the tailbone, pain when sitting and even pain in the arms or legs due to pressure from the tailbone.
Read more →
Flexibility is an aspect of health that many people neglect, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. However, flexibility is important because tight muscles can create problems throughout your body. To improve your flexibility, the ACSM recommends stretching every day.
Read more →
The sacroiliac joint is located where the spine meets the pelvis. Within this joint are ligaments that connect the bones. Ligaments are tough fibrous cords made of connective tissue, and their job is to strengthen and stabilize the joints.
Read more →
Your pelvic joints are one of the two most movable joints in your body because the ball and socket joints allow your legs to move in different directions. Stretching your pelvic joints and muscles prevents hip stiffness and back pain, according to physical therapist Gray Cook, author of โMovement.
Read more →
Your gluteus maximus, medius and minimus muscles -- glutes for short -- are essentially your butt. The largest and most powerful muscle group in your body, glutes are responsible for movements such as extending your hip to the rear when you sprint or climb stairs.
Read more →
Indigestion is a general term typically used to describe an uncomfortable feeling in your upper abdomen. Indigestion includes heartburn or acid reflux, as well as bloating and gas.
Read more →
If your outer hips feel tight, stretching can help relieve the tightness. Runners and others who work out can stretch the outer hip muscles and the fibrous tissue of the iliotibial band to help release tension and relieve soreness.
Read more →
When the arms and shoulders are overstretched, muscles, tendons and ligaments may be lengthened past normal range of motion causing shoulder instability. Shoulder instability increases the risk of shoulder injuries such as strains, sprains and dislocations.
Read more →
The part of your spine known as the thoracic region resides in the upper part of your back at around the chest level. The thoracic spine is made up of 12 vertebrae; your ribs are connected to it to help protect vital organs.
Read more →
When it comes to diseases of civilization, low back pain is public enemy number one. Often this condition is caused by tight hip flexors, which can manifest as low back pain or the sensation that one's hips are tied in knots. If you experience hip tightness during the night, specifically, this is good news.
Read more →
The back thigh, or hamstring, is made up of three large muscles. These muscles perform essential functions that make it possible for you to run, walk, step and stand. Because these muscles are in constant use, even while sitting, they tend to get tight.
Read more →
A tingling sensation in your feet can be caused by one or more factors including a damaged nerve, a low back injury, abnormal levels of vitamins and minerals, diabetes or a few other diseases. Sciatica -- the compression or irritation of one of the spinal nerve roots -- is a common cause of tingling in the feet.
Read more →