Question about leg strenghening and flexability exercise

[savedbygrace]

Ok...I'm gonna try to explain this without confusing everybody with my stupidity. I have been doing exercises as directed by Bushido Man on building strength in my leg muscles. The exercises are when you , say for instance, chamber your leg in a side kick and hold it for 5 sec. then slowly extend in out and hold for 5 sec. then bring it back in slowly and rechamber and repeat. Each time you extend your leg out try to extend it higher. When I do these exercises I can only raise my leg, when extended, to a little higher than 90 degrees.

Here's the beginning of my question. I have a pretty high book shelf at home that I can place my foot on and stretch out my leg. The height of it is above 90 degrees. Unfortuantlly I cannot achieve this height when I'm doing the extension exercises, but when stretching I can squirm and get my foot onto the shelf to stretch. I can slowly bring my foot off of the shelf and hold it there in that position, but like I said the hard part is getting it that high (I can only get it that high by first putting my foot on the shelf then bring it off of it). Would it be just as effective if I done the exercisethat way, by first just getting my foot on the shelf the slowly sliding it off and holding it in that position like its done in the exercise? Would I be strenghtening muscles that normally would not be by doing it the "regular" way?

I apologize for this being so long and probably confusing ya'll but I'm not good at explaining things. Thanks for any help or comments.

[bushido_man96]

I think the exercise you are doing there is ok. It will give you a different feel and stretch, and that is a good thing. Keep doing both, if you like...they will both help you out in the long run.

If you want to try to build some more leg strength to get that initial kick a little higher, add this to your leg work: after you extend the leg, hold it there, and lift it slightly, then lower it a little, and then lift it slightly again. I call this "pulsing." You are only moving your extended leg around 6 inches from up to down, but it will build that muscle up to help get the initial kick a little higher.

Let us know how it goes!

[savedbygrace]

I think the exercise you are doing there is ok. It will give you a different feel and stretch, and that is a good thing. Keep doing both, if you like...they will both help you out in the long run.

If you want to try to build some more leg strength to get that initial kick a little higher, add this to your leg work: after you extend the leg, hold it there, and lift it slightly, then lower it a little, and then lift it slightly again. I call this "pulsing." You are only moving your extended leg around 6 inches from up to down, but it will build that muscle up to help get the initial kick a little higher.

Let us know how it goes!

Ok...I hate you.... ...j/k..Man that exercises HURTS.....but its a good hurt. I guess I never really thought about doing to raising and lowering but I definietly got a different type "burn" when I done them. thanks alot for the tip my firend.....

[baronbvp]

I feel too much pain in my hip to hold my leg up and out for that long. I get a better stretch by resting it on something and then stretching the muscles. Bushido Man's exercise sounds good, but I just can't do it. For strength, I do leg presses, leg retractions, calf extensions, and other weight lifting.

[bushido_man96]

Ok...I hate you.... ...j/k..Man that exercises HURTS.....but its a good hurt. I guess I never really thought about doing to raising and lowering but I definietly got a different type "burn" when I done them. thanks alot for the tip my firend.....

You are welcome, again!

[baronbvp]

Try also just concentrating on maintaining good posture during the day, keeping your abs tight whether standing or sitting. You'd be surprised how often we relax them. This will help keep them strong and increase your awareness of them throughout the day.

[bushido_man96]

Try also just concentrating on maintaining good posture during the day, keeping your abs tight whether standing or sitting. You'd be surprised how often we relax them. This will help keep them strong and increase your awareness of them throughout the day.

I had never thought of that, baron. Nice idea!