What exercises help to do the splits?

[parkerlineage]

I've decided - I'm going to do the splits now. I've been close for the last...several years, but just never pushed the final six inches or so (which, relatively, isn't that far if you're 6'6"). I can do it forward and back, but not side to side.

My question - what excersies/stretches should I do to finally reach my goal, and approximately how long will it be until my efforts come to fruition?

[bushido_man96]

Do some active/passive and PNF stretching. Those should help you get past the last little point.

[Vladko]

Go to http://www.elasticsteel.com.

Take a loot at the articles. A few of them are for splits and flexibility.

[KarateGirl1387]

Wow, you're quite the tall one, parkerlineage! Almost as tall as our former president at the college I attend...I believe he was about 6'8-9ish. Anyways, I would suggest keep doing "straddle" stretches (on the floor open your legs as far apart as you can and stretch down the middle, to each side, etc.). Another good stretch is having someone hold your leg up as far as it'll go while you lean back against a bar or whatever's convenient for support, kind of like you see dancers do, and just keep holding your splits and going down a bit more each time you do them, but doing so carefully, seeing as how you don't want to injure yourself. I think the main thing is to keep stretching daily because flexibility is one of those things that's very easy to lose if you don't keep on top of things. I've been dancing since I was 4 years old and just doing a lot of leg stretches and high kicks helped me achieve good flexibility, though I can't do my straddle splits as well as I used to

Edited July 30, 2006 by KarateGirl1387

[parkerlineage]

Thanks for the posts, guys...I'm trying some suggested stretches, and, as you said Karategirl, I'll just have to stay consistent.

[Jiffy]

The problem with this stretch is the reliance on muscle to achieve it. It's to hard to do it standing up because you need those muscles to support you and you can't contract and stretch a muscle that the same time. It's also hard to get a full stretch just sitting down with the legs apart and leaning forward because of the akward hip position.

My recomendation would be to get a stretching machine. The ones with the winch are great, but pricey. The manual ones are almost as good and allow you to lean back while doing the stretch, thus avoiding the akward hip. Once you get one, do the stretches after excersize (when they are really pliable) and use your breathing to help.