Head to Toe stretching

[Guest]

I'm working towards chin to toes and last night was day 5. I hit same side elbow, opposite elbow, and fist + half thumb on both sides. I have a lot of doms this morning in my hips and upper hamstrings.

[tobake]

Hi guys. Started the H2T program three days ago and already seeing great progress.

 

This is where I am at for now:

 

Am I the only one having more trouble with same side elbow to toe compared to the opposite?

 

[Rik]

Am I the only one having more trouble with same side elbow to toe compared to the opposite?

If I recall correctly, Emmet has mentioned it's almost 50/50 between people who get same side first versus people who get opposite side first.

[Dexter]

Day 17 for me. Hit head to 2 fingers on both sides. However if i keep my back leg straight like Emmet in the video, i cannot hit two fingers, so i have to keep the back leg bent. Is this okay or the back leg has to be straight as well?

Also, left foot starting to feel a bit tingly these past few days. Should i be worried? Doesn't really bother me though.

[AndeL]

G'day,

Bent back leg is fine & good. You can crank into it a bit more pushing up with the back leg.

Left foot nerve tingles.... monitor that. You are taking your own risks in h2t endeavours & generally. I have occasional tingles without dramas, but of course things can always turn bad. 

[Emmet Louis]

Hey,

When gaining the initial position back leg bent or straight is what ever is comfortable. Tingles to a mild degree are normal. Have you been doing the once a week calf rolling?

 

[Dexter]

Yup, have been doing the calf rolling twice a week. I have to really play around with foot position when attempting right leg head to toe, as sometimes my body hits my thigh but still I don't get enough depth to reduce a finger.

As for the tingles, they are mild, but doesn't go away.

Update 11-7-16: Going to take a break from h2t for now. The tingles are mild, but is starting to worry me as they have been persisting for days. Will see if rest is going to fix the tingles.

Edited July 11, 2016 by Dexter

[Kit_L]

@ Dexter: do some deep work on the advanced piriformis stretch first; see below. If piriformis is involved, the following session of HTT will feel different.

 

If I were to reshoot this today, I would begin with the support under the front leg's thigh and calf; the support tips the body towards the foot and (as the trunk approaches horizontal) the body weighs more WRT the hip joint we are working.

[Dexter]

Hi Kit,

I have been doing the advanced piriformis stretch solo version for around two weeks now, and will continue but with the support under the front leg's thigh and calf like you suggested. I'm not entirely sure if I am doing the stretch correctly, but prior to this I was doing the seated piriformis stretch, and I am feeling it in the same area so I hope that's a good indicator I'm hitting the right area. Am I to perform the advanced piriformis stretch daily?

As for HTT, I stopped doing it since Monday since the tingles wouldn't go away. I'm not sure if I would describe what I'm feeling as tingles, more like just a different sensation on my left foot compared to my right, especially when I crunch my big toe or when I brush my toe against the wall, like its more sensitive than before. Could I continue on with HTT, or continue resting from it until my left foot feels 'normal' again?

[Kit_L]

There has been much discussion on this vexed subject; for me, if a stretch is being pursued for remedial reasons, I have found that strong sessions every three–five days works best. Re. HTT: you will have to make that judgement; by its nature it's a daily practise, but tingles are evidence of some kind of nerve impingement (usually) so the precautionary principle would seem to be indicated!

[Xams2387]

This may sound dumb but are the hamstring and calf I’m stretchig supposed to be relaxed or contracted when doing the pulses?

[SwissDanny]

6 minutes ago, Xams2387 said:

This may sound dumb but are the hamstring and calf I’m stretchig supposed to be relaxed or contracted when doing the pulses?

Hamstring and calf relaxed, and the pulsing action with naturally contract the quad and other antagonist muscles in front.

I would say that if you need to ask this question perhaps it is too advanced a technique for now.  You must be able to do this mindfully and with some body awareness or the injury risk will be high.  Doing it "by numbers" not advisable.

[Xams2387]

7 minutes ago, SwissDanny said:

Hamstring and calf relaxed, and the pulsing action with naturally contract the quad and other antagonist muscles in front.

I would say that if you need to ask this question perhaps it is too advanced a technique for now.  You must be able to do this mindfully and with some body awareness or the injury risk will be high.  Doing it "by numbers" not advisable.

Yep. 

I’m not there yet. 

I don’t have the prerequisites. 

I assumed, unless otherwise stated that it would be relaxed. 

Just curious for the future. I hadn’t found an answer anywhere else. 

Thanks

[SwissDanny]

2 minutes ago, Xams2387 said:

Thanks

No worries.  You may want to look at Jefferson curls as a good and very effective stepping stone (or tool in itself) for building this awareness (as the pull comes from the weight)

[Xams2387]

2 hours ago, SwissDanny said:

No worries.  You may want to look at Jefferson curls as a good and very effective stepping stone (or tool in itself) for building this awareness (as the pull comes from the weight)

I’ve looked into those. I might give them a shot. 

I’ve had really great success with my legs using resisted/weighted stretching. 

I’ve had trouble getting results post strained hamstring though, so I’m looking into whatever will work now. 

[Xams2387]

I’m doing Emmet’s beginner stage, the bodyweight good morning stretch, and I’m feeling it behind the knee. 

My first question is how do I know if that’s from tight hamstrings or calves, and my second question is is it fine to continue forward like that or should I bend the knee a little more to feel it more spread out throughout the hamstring muscle?

[Dexter]

On 4/5/2018 at 7:55 AM, Xams2387 said:

My first question is how do I know if that’s from tight hamstrings or calves, and my second question is is it fine to continue forward like that or should I bend the knee a little more to feel it more spread out throughout the hamstring muscle?

You can try stretching your calves before doing the stretch. Also the hamstring crosses the knee joint so you also can feel it behind the knee. 

[Nathan]

@Xams2387: Like Dexter said, you can try stretching the calves first. That said, the good morning stretch Emmet shows requires comparatively very little from the calves, and if you're doing the prereq program as he outlines it, then you're already stretching your calves first. If you're feeling a stretch (not pain) behind the knee, then you should be fine. It's fine to feel the stretch in one spot. That just means that is where you're tightest!