I have noticed lots of walkers out and about with their dogs and kids…and this leads me to believe that more walking here there and everywhere may be contributing to another global trend….
Namely, the feared (and I made this name up 🙂 Tight Quad-itis.
NOOOOOOOOO! Not that!! 🙂
What makes me think this might be a “thing”? You’ll never guess what happened. I was virtually working out with my friends last Friday, and when I had us all try and reach back to stretch our quad in a kneeling lunge position, TIGHT QUAD-ITIS struck and all 4 of them fell over in big hamstring cramps.
Simultaneously.
It was hysterical, and painful, and hysterical all at the same time. 🙂
So how do we avoid big hamstring cramps and how do we address this phenomenon that I have termed “tight quad-itis”? They are most intricately linked as they are partners in crime… also known as an antagonistic muscle pair. When one muscle is loose, the other muscle is supposed to be tight, and vice-versa.
Remember there are 4 quads on the front of the leg and 3 hamstrings on the back of the leg. Those four quads get used over and over and over as people walk straight ahead and forward most of the time. Tight hamstrings? Sure, lots of people have them. However, before you ever go after the hamstrings themselves, make sure their antagonist friends the quads are out of your way!
Here are some strategies to get those quads to behave, so you can tackle the hamstrings later!
Watch the video below and let me know in the comments below what your favorite quad or hamstring stretch is!
