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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why I can't touch my toes?

69 replies

Leafylow · 30/04/2019 21:56

I have never been able to, even as a child. I could flip straight back into a crab and all manner of other stretches, but I could never touch my toes. I still can't at 30.

I've been doing Pilates and yoga since Christmas, and though I've never been very sporty I've always tried to do some exercise so I'm not hugely unfit or out of shape, but I cannot get my fingers even to my ankles. Other people who do no exercise or stretches can do it easily. Is it something that some people just physically can't do? And if so, why? Or do I need to just keep trying?

OP posts:

bedouincheek · 30/04/2019 23:02

You may find you are bending at the waist and not the hips. Sounds mad I know but when doing a hip hinge my pilates instructor pointed this out to me and had to help me figure out how to bend at the hips instead.

I can't believe that at 45 and having a childhood of gymnastics, swimming, exercise classes, athletics, tennis and all round fitness, at massively overweight I have finally touched my toes. My mother laughed at me for years because she was "more flexible". Turns out she was just unaware of where her waist should have been.

mum11970 · 30/04/2019 23:09

I’m pretty fit and can only just reach my toes as I have tight hamstrings. Runners and cyclists quite often have tight hamstrings. I also struggle with exercises that require straight legs in air when lying on my back, mine are always bent due to how tight my hamstrings are.

Singleandproud · 30/04/2019 23:20

I'm currently several stone overweight and haven't exercised/stretched properly in a very long time but can still get my hands flat on the floor when standing or my head on my shin when sitting on the floor. I was able to do the splits into my 20's so I guess some of the flexibility in my legs has remained. I never had a flexible back through no matter how hard I tried.

Aquamarine1029 · 30/04/2019 23:28

My father is almost 80 and is in absolutely incredible shape. He has been an amazingly gifted athlete his entire life, yet he cannot sit "Indian style", legs crossed over each other. It is literally impossible for him to do this. As he has said, he would have to break his hips to make this possible. He is very flexible in every other way. Makes no sense whatsoever, and I've seen him try to do it. Simply can't manage it .

BackforGood · 30/04/2019 23:35

None of my dc (22,20, and 17) can touch their toes. None are overweight and all play sport regularly 2 - 5 times a week. None of them have even been able to. I presume it must be a genetic thing from dh's side .

It does amaze me in yoga and pilates though what I (an unfit, mid-50s person who has only recently started) can do that some people - who look far younger and far fitter than me - can't. Another recent one that surprised me was the number of people who couldn't touch fingers diagonally behind their backs...... including the instructor ?!?

Must surely be something built in to us.

Just to be clear, there's load of things I can't do that other can - just we aren't discussing those

LaurieFairyCake · 30/04/2019 23:43

I can get my elbows and forearms on the floor

I may be the least fit person ever made

Bellasorellaa · 30/04/2019 23:45

are you overweight? My dad cannot do it and he is

Not being rude just asking

SnowyAlpsandPeaks · 01/05/2019 02:38

I can, and touch my arms across my back etc- but I’m extremely hyper mobile (double jointed as some would say but is incorrect).

flumpybear · 01/05/2019 03:11

It's the sort of thing you need to have done as a younger person to get flexibility in your ligaments and tendons if I was told correctly, and genes is also likely to have something to do with it

I did a a lot of gymnastics as a child and early adult and now, even though I'm overweight and when I've had periods Of not going to the gym, I'm still very flexible, albeit now as good as before, I can work on it and easily start getting more flexible

dancinfeet · 01/05/2019 07:01

How do you find this stretch in a sitting position OP (pike)? With the legs straight out in front, do you find that you can barely stretch forward at all or does this position make it easier?

If It's just the same or more difficult in this position, it is likely to be a combination of tight hamstrings and placement of the pelvis. if the pelvis isn't held in an upright position when standing, but is tilted slightly forward at the hips (naturally sticking the backside out slightly) it restricts the full mobility of the hips. Often this results in the pelvis tilting the opposite way in the sitting position (tucking under / rolling back towards the base of the spine). Combine this with tight hamstrings at the back, and you get a very tight pike stretch where it is difficult to touch the toes or get the chest anywhere close to the legs.

If you can reach further forward when you are in a sitting pike position than you can when you are standing, it's likely to be more just tight hamstrings than the placement of the pelvis.

Hope that makes some sense, and is of some help! (Dance and acrobatic arts teacher).

Catquest1 · 01/05/2019 07:08

I struggle when i dont stretch regularly but i have always had tight hamstrings and tight calf muscles even as a child. Particularly calves ! And i run (in a fashion) which doesn't help.

Sometimes at work they used to use me as a model for assessment when we were checking measuring competencies because my calves are so tight

Bluntness100 · 01/05/2019 07:15

You pretty much have to Practice. So try it every day you find you get further and further down.

Basically bend below the hips, and stretch your arms down.

Cheby · 01/05/2019 07:15

I think it’s partially to do with body shape. I have always been able to do it, and not just touch my toes, but get my hands flat/wrists on the floor while keeping my legs completely straight. I could still do this at 8.5 months pregnant and I can still do it now (I’m nearly 40 and obese).

I was always sporty as a child and did ballet/gym which I assume helped, although I was overweight then too. I do have a relatively long body compared to my legs though, and I think that’s probably my secret! My DH had really long legs and a shorter body and he struggles.

HarrysOwl · 01/05/2019 07:15

I have noticed some people have their height in their back but some have it in their legs.

This! I can flat-palm the floor with my legs straight, maybe because I'm petite and my height is my torso. Short legs.

But I cannot sit cross legged comfortably. Physically impossible.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 01/05/2019 08:08

I'm over 50, overweight, shorter arms / torso + long legs combination and have a bad back, yet I can still touch my toes

My yoga teacher says it's either hamstrings or backs that prevent people.

Hiddenaspie1973 · 01/05/2019 08:49

Short arms?

PracticalTacticalBrilliance · 01/05/2019 13:48

I'm quite relieved to read this thread! I've been doing ballet since I was young, and still do it each week, but I've never been able to touch my toes. Very glad it's not just me as everyone around me always thinks it's really odd.

sanityisamyth · 01/05/2019 13:57

I never have been able to. I'm about 6" off. I have severe hyperextension of my knees and very short calf muscles. Not a good combination for wanting to reach the floor!!

CylindraceousNicholas · 01/05/2019 14:04

I can get both palms flat on the floor with straight legs, but I don't have any muscular or bone issues, could it be something like that? Do you have a short back/torso or short arms in relation to your legs?

My DP can't reach his toes either. He has very tense/unstretchy leg muscles, and has broken his knees before. Have you ever broken a bone in your leg?

CylindraceousNicholas · 01/05/2019 14:05

I'm 5'7 btw, think DP is the same or maybe 5'8

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 01/05/2019 14:06

I can't either. I think I have very short hamstrings.

It was my New year's resolution last year to be able to do it, so I did stretching every fucking day. Made no difference at all. I have given up now.

CylindraceousNicholas · 01/05/2019 14:07

also struggle with exercises that require straight legs in air when lying on my back

This is helpful. Maybe try some of these exercises OP, if you can do those then it might be your torso rather than your legs. DP can't do these exercises at all and for him it seems to be hamstring and knee related.

bluebluezoo · 01/05/2019 14:07

For many sports there’s a pay off between flexibility and strength- increasing flexibility can loosen ligaments which means a higher likelihood of injuries- especially in impact sports.

So the vast majority of sports will utilise a bit of stretching, but will not increase flexibility. For that you need yoga, ballet, gymnastics etc where range of movement is equal in importance to strength, and there will be a big focus on increasing flexibility.

This is why even “sporty” people generally aren’t very flexible.

It can be done. You will likely need to stretch beyond your natural limit, even marginally, every day, and decrease sports such as running which naturally tighten ligaments and joints.

Some people have naturally stretchy ligaments. Others have ones that stretch and stay stretchy- you need to work for gains but minimal effort to maintain. Others will have ligaments that need to work every day to maintain and increase. But they all will stretch!

Oh and if you wear high heels that can seriously affect your hamstring flexibility. To the point sometimes where heels can’t even touch the floor standing up.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 01/05/2019 14:33

I've always been able to touch my toes easily and still can as an unfit almost 50 yo. My very tall, fit and sporty 15 year old can only get half way down his shins. My sister can't touch her toes either.

I think it's tight ham string muscles that might prevent people doing it, DS certainly has tight muscles.

shumway · 01/05/2019 14:39

I've never been able to. Thought I was the only weirdo.

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