Asked by: Yoan Matthiessen
healthy living running and jogging

Why should you be able to touch your toes?

11
Most people think touching your toes is about stretching your hamstrings, but really hamstrings stretch only so far. The goal is actually to get more length in the spine by arching your lower back.


Considering this, is it impossible for some people to touch their toes?

You can't touch your toes because of the way you have been using your body — and it's something you can fix. In this toe touching quest, hamstrings are only one of the culprits, but there are some key accomplices including your hip flexors, your mid- and lower back, and even your lats, that need to get in line.

Secondly, is touching your toes a sign of fitness? So I would say that if one cannot touch their toes, it is a sign that there is some disharmony in the physical fitness. Either too much strength or too little of both, strength and flexibility. That is when muscles/joints are in early development stage and can stretch to establish a flexible body (think Gymnasts).

In this regard, what does touching toes mean?

1. to bend, while keeping your legs straight, and touch your toes with your fingers, as a physical exercise. Synonyms and related words. + To do physical exercise as a way of keeping fit.

How long does it take to be able to touch toes?

That's right. Studies confirmed that actively focusing on touching your toes for 30 seconds, 3 times per week was enough to lengthen hamstring muscles in 4 weeks.

Related Question Answers

Alise Abubakirov

Professional

Where do you touch a guy?

Just like you love it when he touches you in a sensual way, men also love the touch of a woman provided it's on the right spots.

Seduce, Arouse & Turn Him On: Know Where To Touch A Man
  • His nipples.
  • The back of his neck.
  • His fingertips.
  • His scrotum.
  • His feet.
  • The back of his knees.
  • His perineum.
  • The tongue.

Kerstin Thoebus

Professional

What percentage of people cant touch their toes?

77 percent of men can touch their toes.

Gaspare Schlinkschroder

Professional

Can everyone do the splits?

Yes everyone can eventually learn to do the splits. Most people weren't born flexible (like me) but I can do the splits on both legs. You just have to put some effort into stretching and try every day. Also don't hold a stretch for more than 30 seconds.

Page Larrazabal

Explainer

Is touching your toes good for your back?

Skip the Toe Touches
Fitness is often a great treatment for back pain, but some movements offer you little health benefit. Another cause for concern is the way standing toe touches can overstretch hamstrings and muscles in your lower back.

Shufang Fiegenbaum

Explainer

What does it mean if you can't move your toes?

Foot drop is when you can't lift the front part of your foot due to weakened or paralyzed muscles or nerve damage. A person with foot drop will have trouble walking normally because of this. Foot drop is not a disease, but it is a symptom of an underlying problem.

Teresiano Burillo

Pundit

What does it mean when a guy touches your waist from behind?

So, what does it mean when a guy touches your waist? It would likely be a sign that he is attracted to you especially if he only touches your waist, he does it on more than one occasion and if he shows other signs of attraction around you. He might also be being dominant, protective or he might be trying to tease you.

Abdourahman Geschwandtner

Pundit

Why do doctors make you touch your toes?

Most people think touching your toes is about stretching your hamstrings, but really hamstrings stretch only so far. The goal is actually to get more length in the spine by arching your lower back. With practice, you may experience improvements in back pain and less tension in your shoulders and neck.

Quintina Gillenkirch

Pundit

Are toe touches bad?

Avoid standing toe-touches altogether. Bending down to touch the toes, with straight legs, can overstretch the lower back muscles and hamstrings, and stress the vertebrae, discs and muscles of the lower back and hamstrings. Adding a twisting movement to the toe-touch can cause damage to the joints.

Joussef Zinser

Pundit

How can I increase my flexibility to touch my toes?

Toe Reach With Band
  1. Sit in a pike position, with legs out straight in front of you, feet touching if you can.
  2. Wrap a resistance band around one foot and hold onto it firmly.
  3. Start sitting straight up tall with band stretched out.
  4. Slowly, lower your torso over your legs as you reach toward your toes.

Rhett Mazeau

Teacher

What determines flexibility?

Flexibility is the ability of a joint or series of joints to move through an unrestricted, pain free range of motion. The range of motion will be influenced by the mobility of the soft tissues that surround the joint. These soft tissues include: muscles, ligaments, tendons, joint capsules, and skin.

Tamiko Navea

Teacher

Why are my toes so short?

Brachydactyly is a shortening of the fingers and toes due to unusually short bones. This is an inherited condition, and in most cases does not present any problems for the person who has it. This condition can also be a symptom of other genetic disorders.

Avencio Marracho

Teacher

Can stretching make you taller?

Hanging and stretching can reverse the compression, making you slightly taller until your spine compresses again. Spinal compression can reduce your height temporarily by 1%. In tall people this can be as much as a half inch. Stretching and hanging and lying down can restore this 1%, but won't make you taller [5].

Fermin Gogu

Teacher

How can I loosen my hamstrings?

Stretches to loosen tight hamstrings
  1. Lie down on the ground with your back flat and your feet on the ground, knees bent.
  2. Slowly bring your right knee to your chest.
  3. Extend the leg while keeping the knee slightly bent.
  4. Hold for 10 seconds and work up to 30 seconds.

Winona Yarmak

Reviewer

How do I increase my lower back flexibility?

To perform this lower back flexibility exercise:
  1. Lie back on the floor with knees bent and feet flat, keeping the arms by the sides.
  2. Gently arch the lower back and push the stomach out.
  3. Hold for 5 seconds, then relax.
  4. Flatten the back and pull the bellybutton in toward the floor.
  5. Hold for 5 seconds, then relax.

Edmilson Saenz De Buruaga

Reviewer

How do you stretch?

Here's how:
  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees bent slightly.
  2. Lean forward, placing your hands just above your knees.
  3. Round your back so that your chest is closed and your shoulders are curved forward.
  4. Then arch your back so that your chest opens and your shoulders roll back.
  5. Repeat several times.

Ralf Cañameras

Reviewer

How can I grow my legs longer?

Exercises for longer legs
  1. Stand with your feet together.
  2. Step forward with one foot.
  3. Bend both knees to a 90-degree angle, or as close to it as you can.
  4. Hold this position for several seconds.
  5. Push off your front leg and return to your starting position.
  6. Repeat, alternating legs.

Jackeline Munuera

Reviewer

Why do I keep getting cramp in my toes?

Electrolyte imbalances can cause the muscles to cramp and spasm. Sometimes, dehydration causes an electrolyte imbalance. In other cases, an underlying medical condition may be the culprit. Tetany, which is due to low levels of calcium, is an electrolyte imbalance that may cause muscle cramps.

Chaia Llarola

Supporter

When should you stretch?

There is some evidence that regular static stretching outside periods of exercise may increase power and speed, and reduce injury. The best time to stretch is when the muscles are warm and pliable. This could be during a yoga or pilates class, or just after exercising.

Maicol Irusta

Supporter

How do you stretch out your feet?

To do this exercise:
  1. Sit up straight in a chair, with the feet flat on the floor.
  2. Place the left foot on the right thigh.
  3. Pull the toes up, toward the ankle.
  4. Hold for 10 seconds.
  5. Massaging the arch of the foot while stretching will help ease tension and pain.
  6. Repeat this exercise 10 times on each foot.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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14th April, 2020

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