Why You Can't Touch Your Toes (For Athletes Young and Old)

[@pressuredup]

I’m 6’1” 320 pounds in my 40’s and I can put my palms on the floor. I have shorter younger coworkers that are half my weight that can barely touch their ankles. One even does yoga all the time. 20 years of contorting my body into spots as a heavy duty mechanic has kept me flexible. Or being overweight let’s gravity pull me down closer to the floor. 😂

[@maryjanewesterlund9958]

I can touch my ties, put my palms in the floor … I’ve always had such incredible flexibility. I’m learning from you that training myself in other positions (I.e., squat) is enabling me to do other things, too!

[@msbegaofnwha]

cap😂

[@Marquipuchi]

I'm 5'11, 160lbs, 18 years old, reasonably active, and I literally can barely reach a few inches past my knees. I have no idea why my flexibility there is so bad.

[@Galaxxy101]

have you looked into hyper-mobility? It sounds backwards but it can sometimes cause tightness regardless of fitness level, and sometimes it's better to not be flexible(in certain areas) in that case.

[@Marquipuchi]

@@Galaxxy101 definitely not. I’m not flexible anywhere in my body

[@patriciapiper6294]

I like the way you talk to us. I feel like you are being honest in all ways, so I tune in to get a kind and caring explanation about how to get better.🤸‍♀️

[@Uprighthealth]

What did you learn today? Drop me a comment!👇

[@patriciapiper6294]

That I cant get around it. I have R.P.P! And I need A. T. M. THX PAT

[@PaulaCrisp]

I'm a mountain biker, and have never been able to touch my toes. The last 2 years I've had some health and personal stuff that had me a lot more sedintary. And atrophy aches for sure! I'm ready to get my fitness back but now that I'm in my 50s I want to be more thoughtful about my fitness. I want flexibility and strength. If I could touch my toes it would be a huge accomplishment that my 20 year old self couldn't do.

[@tes1geb]

I am 73 yr old and find the channel very helpful. Thanks a lot. Keep up the great job!

[@julianl7937]

I am asian, i have long torso and shorter legs, similar to your body type, it is always easier to touch my toes, no training involved. My friend who has longer legs and short torso obviously has harder time touching their toes, you can see the geometry of it.

[@louisedory7725]

Thanks!

[@chickentender4037]

No secrets. I am sedentary but have been gardening more, carrying heavy bags of feed (40 lbs is doable, 50 is stretching it), and try to do stretching and various exercises several times a week. 60 yr old female. Waiting to return to the gym for zoomba, treadmills and weights.

[@davidgretzschelcommunicati1630]

If I could flex my toes, I would flex in front of other people a lot. And laugh at them and probably call them weak, if they cannot do it themselves. Such things make me very happy :)

[@johnnunn8688]

I’m 69 yo and can still put my palms flat on the floor, with straight legs. Top tip, when tying your laces, always do it by bending over and tying them, keeping straight legs.

[@markokalevieskola8672]

Dude, this video got me to touch my toes for the first time in 30 years.

[@jelatinosa]

I have never been able to touch my toes. I used to be able to put my foot behind my head, I could do the backwards bridge easily, I can deep squat and sit criss cross very easily. People always ask how I can do those things with ease. But I can't even sit comfortably in a 90 degree angle! Much less bend forward enough to touch my toes! Stuff that most people I know can do easily! I force myself to sit in a 90 degree angle at times, while I'm watching TV to see if I get used to it, but it hurts and then my legs start tingling like my nerves are being pinched.

[@sirinsjk7503]

You're describing me EXCACTLY girl i can do ANY bended knee things but i just struggle when my leg is straight and i wanna touch my toes so bad so how is it for u now?can u touch it?

[@JasonFarrell]

I can just barely touch the ground, but only while doing post-run quad+calf+hamstring stretches when the muscles are ALREADY warm and loosened up. I think it's safer this way since overstretching "cold" muscles can cause injury. Perhaps I'll work towards getting my palms to touch the ground, but I don't see much real-world benefit in going that far.

[@777hathor]

I touch my toes then relax and my back lengthens and I can knuckle the ground. Very relaxing.

[@todallard8791]

I could always touch my toes till I took a desk job at 38 after 10 years sitting my flexibility got steadily worse, while being on my feet all day at other jobs never slowed me down. Sitting in a chair is the worst thing you can do and I have been working on reducing my use of chairs lately.

[@Don-pk2uy]

Any improvement?

[@doomsdaytuther5095]

I am 61 years old and when I struggle to touch my toes I bend down and bend my feet up so that my fingers can grab my toes. I do one hand and one leg at a time 1st and then when my hamstrings get used to the stretching I use my fingers to grab on to my toes. After I have a few fingers around 1st 3 toes I bend my foot back to the ground. The stretching on my hamstrings feels comfortable doing it this way.

[@bezig1951]

Doing yoga regularly has enabled me to touch my toes... but I have always been able to do it!

[@marcospronsen656]

Why I want to be able to touch the ground with straight legs? Well, i work in a greenhouse with lots of plants on the ground. Often I have to pack a few hundred plants in boxes on the floor. So I always do that with my knees bent, or on knee pads on the floor. What strikes me is that the women always do this with ease..🤔

[@jimsantos6662]

A 7 minute video to say that you can't touch your toes because you don't practice touching your toes...

[@WhatDadIsUpTo]

I'm 74 years old, 6 ft 6 in tall and looking at the floor to me is like looking through binoculars the wrong way. It's soooo far down there. Will I ever be able to touch my toes? I'll let you know.

[@nuthinbutlove]

💛

[@miyoshi_344]

While listening to this video, I somehow managed to touch my toes. Thank you It wasn't perfect, but it's always bug me since I can't do this when I was younger and got really bad grades in PE class

[@amandadavies..]

It's weird because I have always been able to do this even before I lost 77 lbs and had a big stomach that you'd expect would get in the way. I'm 60 now and it's no harder or easier than it ever was. Maybe I just have long arms. My late father always said he could put his hands flat on the floor when he was younger...I haven't quite managed that myself. Maybe I find it easier as a short person.

[@graceextra3595]

Just want to say I just love your videos and passion to help people get healthy and mobile. Thank you ❤

[@oisnowy5368]

I think mobility and stretching also alleviates certain effects of trauma; see the Body Keeps the Score.

[@jc73871]

Love your vids, podcast and calming voice.😁

[@ritapampanin]

really helpful hint squeezing hip muscles inward when bending over. Any more helpful ideas for an arthritic knee(real one) that has been carrying a titanium hip replacement (2#) for 8 years? I want to bike ride and trust that I can place my foot on the ground securely or walk on irregular hiking trails confidently and w/o pain/

[@agnesweiss9525]

I’ve always been able to touch my toes but have no tricks/suggestions. I still can do it and I’m 74.

[@tyharris78]

Athlete wasn’t able to touch my toes until high school , the cheerleaders helped me get it in a day

[@zeezoe478]

I have always been able to touch my toes and place palms on the floor. Yes it has to do with practice. For me is mostly strectching. However now, I got a pouch, thus now not able to place palm on the floor. Still able to touch toes. I am 56.

[@bonniegaither3994]

I have never, even when I was a kid, been able to touch my toes. I remember we used to get in trouble with the P.E teachers if we couldn’t touch our toes.

[@ProYagu]

I’ve never been able to touch my toes. Better mobility will help me weight lift better. I also just started TKD and would like to get to the point where I can kick over my head.

[@francisa8103]

I do muay thai, which is a martial art that involves punching, elbowing, kneeing and kicking. I can't kick high enough without feeling some strain. If I am able to touch my toes I would gain some flexibility in that arena and kicking would be a lot less mechanical.

[@wem-c9f]

Not bad for me at 48 who just had an 8 hour surgery 5 weeks ago and still able to touch my toes, even though the calves and my lower back feel really tight... a while more when i can be active and exercise again, will want to be able to hold onto the toes for longer.

[@nikm2089]

I’ve never been able to touch my toes. Started cycling 10 miles daily and suddenly realized I can can do a floor touch with my palms 8 months later.

[@TundeAjao]

I always try to wash between my toes everyday after swimming and hence, I found I could easily touch my toes

[@izzy8681]

I'm 6'0 15 I have problems touching my toes my legs are very long making it harder to do and my back hurts alot I know I have flat feet

[@izzy8681]

You any tips to help me

[@TruthFactOC]

You kept saying muscle, however I think it’s tendon problem. Since I was 10 years old, I just couldn’t touch my toe, even if I’m agile, slim, walk fast, I just can’t touch floor.

[@DamienAlexander]

I have to drive uber 12 hours a day, ive been doing this for 7 years now and I notice my knees are really hurting sometimes. Maybe it's time to start another job, im in my 30s now and it takes longer to recover everyday from sitting 12 hours.

[@kumbackquatsta]

matt fighting the good fight against broscience

[@Proxypp]

I have been actively training basketball for the last 4 years, until a few days ago I did not even try to touch the floor, but when I tried and when I try, I feel pain in the upper part of my legs.I have less kg than it should, but nothing too much, maybe 2 to 4kg and i can touch the floor when i was younger i even can tpuch ear with tous.

[@sacrilegiousboi]

I can tie my shoes if I squat but not bending over

[@8speedhellcat889]

My sister and my friend never stretch or practice being the positions yet they can touch their toes with ease. My hamstrings feel solid and extremely tight to the touch while there’s feel free and loose. Some of this has to be genetic

[@808x86]

I used to stretch when running tracks and be quite flexible. Playing soccer without stretching made me super stiff. I think, my calves are too tight.. Which carries over to the knee joint and the hamstring

[@Euclidswrld]

i turned 18 and my healthy spine just went to PAIN EVERYDAY

[@crystalbrown6954]

I am 44 and I have spastic cerebral palsy I need suggestions on how to legthen my muscles

[@soma_s92]

I need to ask this please does sciatica make it difficult to touch your toes?

[@bron-sconcess.10]

Difficult to understand anyone would feel flexibility is bad. Flexibility and breathing properly go hand in hand: muscles need good circulation, circulation needs overall good body tone and no rigidity.

[@yishujia186]

I can’t touch my toe with straight legs. Is it possible that my pelvic floor muscles are too tight? And I know those muscles are affected by sitting and emotion.

[@Leo02_]

Hey so I have a problem. I’m side sleeper. I sleep with thinn pillow now and put my hand under my head to keep it aligned but I still wake up forward neck posture! It’s sooo ugly and idk what am I doing wrong. I sleep all proper

[@ohlordvoldy]

Never ever do that in prison

[@annap1191]

Is it difficult to touch your toes if you have a posterior pelvic tilt

[@jamesmartin3004]

If I could touch my toes I would be able to ride the motorcycle I brought myself this time last year and also tie my shoes…. 53 used to touch my toes but last year something happened and now I can touch my knees. Currently 8 inches from reaching the bars on the bike and can’t raise my legs to the pegs without helping them with my hands.

[@grandmastermario3695]

Even though ive always been overweight ive always been able to touch my toes, still often struggle though to do pushups though

[@butterflypooo]

I’m quite active and have NEVER been able to touch my toes, even as a really young kid. I do a lot of yoga and strength training these days (love ‘em planks). There were times when I did yoga daily and noticed that I definitely became better at holding and transitioning between yoga poses and being a bit more open and fluid when on the ground, but I still can’t touch my toes. I think I am quite flexible in other ways … no difficulties at all lifting hands over head (can’t even imagine that being a problem), and I sit on the floor easily to tie my shoes and play with my cats, getting up from the floor isn’t a problem … but that toe touch is a doozy!! Unfortunately, the recent video u made about this (in May, I think) hurt my lower back a bit. I am starting to think that The problem could be my glutes not activating properly, even though I do a lot of bridges and squats. I have to focus on how to activate them and hopefully that can release that area better for things like toe touches and downward dog.

[@Professor_Xavier_]

If you have anterior pelvic tilt then u will never touch ur toe, check it if u have , second thing u can check for weak hamstrings not tight ,,.. and the third one tight psoas muscles..

[@butterflypooo]

@@Professor_Xavier_ I was able to touch my toes once with a flat back after A LOT of very gradual stretching. I stuck to it for a few days until I gave up, but definitely felt it in my hammies. Just a lot of work.

[@Professor_Xavier_]

@@butterflypooo absolutely

[@Don-pk2uy]

@@Professor_Xavier_ how do you know if hamstrings are tight or weak?

[@Professor_Xavier_]

@@Don-pk2uy surf the youtube.. u will definitely know

[@mukunthannarayanasamy4773]

For touching the toes, the knees need not bexlocked 100 percent?

[@BuhleRodrick]

Cuz I'm aiming to participate in a sports and I think it needs touching toes and I never touched my toes my whole life

[@lanebrain55]

I want to improve my footwork for tennis

[@georgetellis9483]

I wish I could get this 7:01 back.

[@Jen-sp9yu]

I can barely do it but I blame my short torso, I can't bend as far. 🙃

[@SimonJones265]

I can run 100m in 11seconds but can't reach very far below my knees lol. I've always had a tight lower back and hamstrings.

[@jelatinosa]

I used to be a sprinter and I could never touch my toes either!

[@jostham]

I have high belly because my mother's side of my family that make- up my body prevents flexibility

[@writingmylife3782]

Lol, you don't need to be able to reach the floor with straight legs to tie your shoes 🤣. Nonetheless it would be nice to be that flexible. I'm stretching my legs almost every day but I can't get better at it. It hurts too much.

[@elchantajista]

Flexibility on boxing after workouts

[@imgood8969]

I'm a runner n I'm not able to touch my toes 😭😭

[@alexb.6186]

I can touch my toes! I just have to bend my knees! 😂 Thats what they are for! Right? But i just want to be more flexible! 🤷‍♂️ I think it is a good thing to remain your health. So; thank you for that helpfull video! 👍

[@manvanGod75]

I'm 48 and i'm wearing blue pants.

[@aliissa1273]

You are good teaching, hope you. Can talk less and spend more time on the excercises

[@boostmobile9249]

Speak up TALK LOUDER PLEASE.

[@charfiomar3487]

first 4 minutes are useless

[@charfiomar3487]

nvm the entire viedo is useless

[@fundatunc]

I must supscribe this channel seems useful

[@beckyellis8376]

Thanks!

[@Uprighthealth]

Thanks! Your support is much appreciated!

[@tes1geb]

Thanks!

[@Uprighthealth]

That's very kind of you! Thank you!

[@stevejackson8471]

Thanks!

[@Uprighthealth]

Thanks for your support!

[@markstamm9270]

Thanks!

[@Uprighthealth]

That's very kind of you! Thank you so much, Mark!