Settle an argument - can you form a straight line from knee to toe?

[GimmeAy]

Weird title I know. Apologies.
But myself and OH were just discussing my legs. Or more specifically my foot.
I was stretching my leg/foot out (as one does) and he jumped in horror saying 'Ew, that's disgusting?' After much questioning it transpires that I can bend my foot down enough with an outstretched leg so that it's just one straight line (hard to explain).
He tried it and his ankles won't go halfway near to a straight line with his leg.
Is it men? Is it me (dancer all my youth) or can everybody but him do it and I'm not a freak?

I can bend my elbows way too far and my lower back is very flexible (so I can put my forehead down to the floor when I bend over at the waist with straight legs) but I suffer quite a bit of hip pain (very difficult for me to sit down with one ankle crossed over resting on the opposite knee, for example). DS (16) can rotate his foot round to face backwards (if that makes sense) but suffers terrible knee pain and swelling (doesn’t help that he is very tall at 6 feet 3, his knees just seem to collapse under him regularly).

@bubblev I have BUPA cover and my GP agreed to make a referral as I was struggling hugely with excessive fatigue and nothing touched it (and we’d been through the usual vitamins, supplements, lifestyle and diet changes etc). I was given blood tests and an ECG and had it confirmed shortly afterwards. The biggest thing for me have been specialised supplements and tailored physiotherapy focussing on strengthening joints. I can’t do weights and I can’t run every day, but a steady stream of exercise makes a huge difference.

Yikes, didn't mean to start a riot! It was just a dumb thread I started to see which of us was more 'normal'. It seems that pretty much all the women can do it, most children, but men not so much. It's just interesting. It was nicer last night when everyone was badgering their partners to point their toes lol. It was never a serious thread.

I'm about the least flexible person I know, but can do this.

I could do loads of stuff after 3 months of yoga, alas I have settled into my stiff old self again. Babies squat all the time. Strong little things! It's all your leg and core strength I guess (which is non existent with me now). Used to be able to almost flatten hands on floor in yoga, but it's been too long now.

Do you think women have different levels of collagen?

I can do the straight ankle thing, little finger facing ceiling both ways when twisting elbow, and the Asian squat. Dp can’t do any !

Yes, but I did a lot of gymnastics as a child and yoga as, an adult. Men tend to neglect flexibility, I've noticed!

I can though I'm known for being flexible +and my fit actually goes further down than the straight line)
DH is very inflexible and can't though he can get fairly close.
I assumed everyone could as it feels fairly basic to me.

@ChilliCheese123 hypermobile people have stretchier collagen do their/ our joints stretch beyond the points they should.

I can't do it 🙈

Chilli, Not necessarily different levels of collagen. In general, it used to be thought that one of the reasons women were more flexible than men was down to the different effects of oestrogens compared with androgens. I vaguely recall progesterone and oestrogen influence joint flexibility hence many pre-menopausal women with hypermobolity notice worsening during phases of their cycle.

This is how my foot naturally flops at rest! I assumed that was normal!!

Yes I can and so can DD but DS (12) can't.

No, I can't do it. I don't have flexible ankle joints. It's never caused me any issues, I'm a swimmer and really good at kicking too

I think this ankle movement is about biomechanics rather than flexibility per se, which is why you have people saying they are generally inflexible but can do it no problem.

I can't touch the floor with my legs straight but i can put my feet behind my head no problem, the latter i understand relates to the biomechanics of the hip joint rather than being 'stretchy'

It's a natural relaxed foot surely?

I can get my legs behind my head, squat with flat feet and touch my hands flat to the floor bending at the waist but I'm not hypermobile, just quite flexible. There's a difference.

I always put it down to having long legs with a lot of rotation in the hips.

@Zilla1
I hope your condition is well managed at the moment and doesn't impact your life too much.

Thank you Zilla. I’m in pain every day, but it’s been a little while (touch wood) since my last dislocation or subluxation so I’m counting that as a win. I’m looking forward to going back to my Alexander Technique teacher, as that helped me a lot.

Do you think women have different levels of collagen?

I'm not sure but me and my mum are both hypermobile and neither of us got any stretchmarks from pregnancy. She's also got really good skin for 64.

@ILikeyourHairyHands But your foot isn't flat? I mean pointed at least flat if not somewhat downwards.

I think it is.

Toes.

Yes and I am 55 and have never danced in my life

Yes in the ankle. But I can’t straighten my legs fully at the knees anymore!