Have you ever tried reaching for your toes? Or has anybody challenged you to do so? This maneuver can tell a lot about the status of your body.
You say you've never been able to touch your toes, it's just the way you're made. Yet your inflexibility is not something that you should blame on nature. You couldn't touch your toes because of the way you've been treating the body-and that's something you can correct.
If you feel a pinch in the lower back, you might have low nerve mobility
Your muscles are not the only possible hindrances to touch the toes. You may develop discomfort in your nervous system if you start to feel a pinch in your lower back that shoots your legs down.
Ideally, our nerves should be able to slide and travel separately from the other muscles and tissues around them. But poor nerve mobility can create discomfort in this movement, which begins in your lower back or the back of your legs. Mobility exercises, such as active hamstring stretching, can help to relieve this tension.
If you feel tightness in your hips, you might have tight hip flexors
If you're not already exhausted by all the reasons why sitting for hours isn't healthy, here's another one: tight hips. Your hip flexors, a group of muscles at the front of your legs, are modified to be in a reduced position following long stretches of sitting.
When chronically shortened, the hip flexors tug on your pelvis, forcing it to lean over (also known as an anterior pelvic tilt). The anterior pelvic tilt then puts a strain on your hamstrings long before you begin to reach your toes. That doesn't leave much room to stretch if the hamstrings are already at their max. If necessary, get up and walk around more often during the day for at least a few minutes.
If you feel tugging in the back of your legs, your hamstrings are weak
Sometimes weakness in the body may be misinterpreted as poor flexibility. In some cases, feeling a tugging or tightness on the back of your legs as you reach your toes may actually indicate weak hamstrings rather than a lack of flexibility.
Building hamstring-strengthening exercises will help you increase your range of motion. Laden mobility and reinforcement will bring in healthy, long-lasting improvements in flexibility and reduce the feeling of tightness.
While frequently overlooked, enhancing flexibility is a vital aspect of maintaining a healthy overall body, according to the American Council of Exercise. Regular stretching can help to improve your posture, relieve muscle tension, and reduce your risk of injury.
