# Stretching hamstrings bad for you?

**URL:** <https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/stretching-hamstrings-bad-for-you/21611>\
**Category:** Training\
**Created:** [September 28, 2019, 9:57am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/stretching-hamstrings-bad-for-you/21611 "2019-09-28T09:57:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Shrike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/shrike/32/17010_2.png) [@Shrike](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Shrike)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 9:57am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/stretching-hamstrings-bad-for-you/21611/1 "2019-09-28T09:57:56Z")

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Was looking up ways to stretch my hamstrings to make myself more flexible for yoga. They really are tight and it seems to stronger I get the tighter and less flexible I get.

Was considering getting a band to help stretch them as I see a lot of yogis using, many of them being amazingly flexible.

Then I saw this article which says not to try stretching the hamstrings!

> **[Stop Stretching Your Hamstrings!](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stop-stretching-your-hamstrings_b_58cdb802e4b0e0d348b34421?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEfGTXW3gkpt4JjruaWgO_iIvHfLmARU0RhVADXmLGu36J1ylZdoTHvCpexov8_0eqe-75qJla4C_S8P3k3ekhq2Qot4DKyVYlvnQSHSCN1bjPcfY6ZVwqOpJFvzSuUT05AoKsZJzw6xyrldkEROliIteazfpoTU7ZmhkHgPxMmG&guccounter=2)**

What you guys think, is it best to avoid going down this path. I’m wondering why the article makes stretching the hams seem so bad when there seems to be a lot of strong flexible people around.

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**Author:** ![RONDAL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rondal/32/7721_2.png) [@RONDAL](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/RONDAL)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 10:42am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/stretching-hamstrings-bad-for-you/21611/2 "2019-09-28T10:42:56Z")

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I would suggest listening to the latest podcast with Kelly starret

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**Author:** ![mcneese.chad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mcneese.chad/32/15056_2.png) [@mcneese.chad](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/mcneese.chad)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 11:48am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/stretching-hamstrings-bad-for-you/21611/3 "2019-09-28T11:48:33Z")

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> [@Pain, Stretching, Strength and more with The Ready State's Kelly Starrett – Ask a Cycling Coach 222](https://www.trainerroad.com/forumt/pain-stretching-strength-and-more-with-the-ready-states-kelly-starrett-ask-a-cycling-coach-222/21494):
>
> The Ready State’s Dr. Kelly Starrett joins Coach Jonathan at Strava HQ for a talk on how to be faster through mobility, stretching, strength training, injury prevention and much more. Tune in on YouTube and your favorite podcast app to catch Episode 222 of the Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast! Youtube Live Video: [https://youtu.be/icOd9aeOXnM](https://youtu.be/icOd9aeOXnM)Topics covered in this episode: [Kelly Starrett is here to discuss how mobility can make us faster!](https://youtu.be/icOd9aeOXnM?t=27)[What is the difference between mobility and flexibility?](https://youtu.be/icOd9aeOXnM?t=341) …

> [@Stretching is making you slower](https://www.trainerroad.com/forumt/stretching-is-making-you-slower/21202):
>
> [[Stretching Is Making You Slower: The Science] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1wjkdGouMk) Thoughts?

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**Author:** ![Gustavo\_Cinci](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/gustavo_cinci/32/10506_2.png) [@Gustavo\_Cinci](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Gustavo_Cinci)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/stretching-hamstrings-bad-for-you/21611/4 "2019-10-08T21:06:30Z")

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Empirical evidence here, but I have struggled periodically with tendinitis and other issues related to joints. I _do_ stretch, but found that if I stretch before rides, I can’t dig deep enough, or the muscles won’t engage properly (or as properly as I’d feel they would). I cannot envision an athletic lifestyle without stretching. I mix stretching (first) with massage stick (second) and that has given me freedom from overuse issues.