Any good stretches?

United States
July 5, 2007 12:41am CST
I am wondering if anyone out there has any good hip and shoulder stretches or knows where I can get my hands on some. I have looked up some on the internet - but I would like to know from you guys and gals what works the best. Thanks in advance :)
1 response
• United States
5 Jul 07
I guess it depends on what areas you are trying to work on. For me, it's my hips, especially towards the back, just above the buttocks. My left one is the worse, mostly due to the fact it's where the worst of my lumbar damage is. There's one stretch I saw on an early morning yoga program on PBS one time. You lay on your back. Your arms straight out, like you are point to East and West. Bring up your right leg, bending at the knee, and pivot your hip so that that right leg goes over your extended left leg. To really feel the stretch in your hip and around to the back, take your left hand and gently pull down on the right knee, as if you want to touch your right knee to the ground just to the left of your left leg. I typically do this stretch on the bed, and dangle my leg over the side of the bed and let gravity do the stretch, instead of using a hand. It does help me. I have heard numerous times that Tai Chi is fantastic for those of us that suffer from Fibromyalgia. I have tried learning Tai Chi from books and videos, but it's hard to learn moves that result in your turning your back to the video LOL. I live in a rural area, so I can't readily take a course at a YMCA or such. :-( Ya know, there was a yoga site that used animated stick figures to demonstrate various poses ... wish I could remember what that site was.
• United States
5 Jul 07
Thanks. I will try that! My worst spot is actually the front of my hips where my thigh meets my "pelvis". It is hard to get a stretch for the front.
• United States
5 Jul 07
Hmmmm, how about lunges? Great for the butt, but you may also feel a stretch due to the back leg being extended behind?