AboutBrad Walker (The Stretch Coach) Expertise I'm more than happy to answer any questions relating to stretching and flexibility. Including how to use stretching to improve your athletic performance, prevent sports injury and aid in the recovery of sports injury.
Experience I'm an internationally recognized stretching and sports injury consultant with 20 years of practical experience in the health and fitness industry. And the founder of (The Stretching Institute).
Organizations Sports Medicine Australia
Publications I've written 5 books on stretching, flexibility and sports injury, including... The Stretching Handbook (ISBN: 978-0958109338), The Anatomy of Stretching (ISBN: 978-1556435966) and The Anatomy of Sports Injuries (ISBN: 978-1556436666). Plus, I've had numerous articles published at About.com, Athletes.com and BodyBuilding.com.
Education/Credentials I'm a health science graduate of the University of New England, with post graduate accreditations in athletics, swimming and triathlon coaching. I've worked with elite level and world champion athletes and I lecture for Sports Medicine Australia on injury prevention.
Past/Present Clients I've worked as assistant coach to Miles Stewart (World Champion Triathlete) and Mick Doohan (World 500cc Motorcycle Champion). Plus I've worked with countless other athletes from sports as diverse as roller-skating, squash, and cycling.
Question QUESTION: Hi Brad! I've been having difficulty when doing any sort of inner thigh stretch. The inner thigh doesn't feel as though it is stretching at all. Instead, I feel a stretch up around the ASIS and lateral to it. With certain stretches, such as sitting on the floor facing a wall with my legs spread out and trying to inch closer, I will also feel an ache in the buttocks. Do you have any advice for isolating my inner thighs and achieving better flexibility? Thank you.
ANSWER: Hi Gayle
Thanks for your inquiry. It's a pleasure to help and I hope the following is beneficial.
There are a couple of things I would suggest that will help to make your stretching more effective and pain free.
And make sure you concentrate on all the muscles around the groin, not just the groin: Hamstrings; Quads; Adductors; Hips; Buttocks; Lower Back; and even the calf muscles.
I hope the above has been helpful. For more information on how to stretch properly and the best stretching exercises for you, visit www.TheStretchingInstitute.com
Brad Walker
Founder & CEO
The Stretching Institute
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for responding so quickly to my question. I appreciate your time and attention to this. I still don't understand, though, why I'm feeling the stretch in the outer front area of the hip rather than in the groin/inner thigh, and why I feel an ache deep in the buttock whenever I do a straddle stretch.
As I read over your suggestions, they seemed, forgive me for saying this, rather generic and applicable to anyone interested in stretching. Are they nevertheless the best methods for helping me feel a stretch in the inner thigh instead of other places?
Answer Hi Gayle
It's a little hard to give you an accurate diagnosis without being able to consult with you physically.
There could be a number of reasons why you feel discomfort in the front of the hip when you do a groin stretch: there way be an old injury there or some scar tissue; it may just be an area that is already tight; or simply the compression on that area when you get into the stretch position causes pain.
The other possibility is simply that: As flexibility varied from person to person, so does where each person will feel the stretch. For example; when one person does a hamstring stretch they may feel most of the tension in the middle of the hamstrings. When another does the same stretch they may feel most of the tension in the upper back, or maybe the upper calves. So it's very hard to say that tension will only be felt in one area.
Brad Walker
Founder & CEO
The Stretching Institute
