Glossary of stretches
Common exercise stretches described and illustrated
When you first start out doing stretch exercises, you might find it difficult to really find a stretching technique that's right for you. However, this needn't be the case. Here's the realbuzz.com illustrated guide to stretch exercises, both for the lower body and the upper body.
Lower body stretches
- Hamstrings
- Quadriceps
- Calves
- Glutes
- Hip flexors
- Adductors
Upper body stretches
- Back
- Neck
- Chest
- Lats
- Shoulder
- Back (relax)
Lower body stretches
Hamstrings (back of thigh)
Technique:
- Grasp leg behind knee
- Pull leg into chest
- Slowly straighten leg
- Repeat with other leg
Quadriceps (front of thigh)
Technique:
- Stand on one leg with other leg pulled up to buttocks
- Grasp ankle and ease into stretch
- Keep knees together
- Keep upright posture
- Repeat with other leg
Calf (back of lower leg)
Technique:
- Lean into wall and lift one leg off the ground
- Lean into stretch
- Keep leg straight
- Repeat with other leg
Glutes (buttock)
Technique:
- Lie on back on the floor
- Position one leg across the opposite thigh
- Grasp leg behind thigh and pull into body
- Repeat with other leg
Hip flexors (front of pelvis)
Technique:
- Kneel on floor with cushion under knee
- Grasp foot and pull up towards buttock
- Thrust hips forward and upwards
- Stretch will be felt in thigh and across front of pelvis
- Repeat with other leg
Adductors
Technique:
- Sit with back against a wall
- Ensure backside is positioned as close to the wall as possible
- Keeping an upright posture, gently press down on knees until stretch is felt
Upper body stretches
Back (start position)
Technique:
- Kneel on floor
- Fully drop chin to chest
- Arch back upwards, pushing from shoulders
- Relaxed breathing throughout
Back (finish position)
Technique:
- From start position, slowly extend neck and look at ceiling
- Hollow out back
- Relaxed breathing throughout
Bicep (upper arm)
Technique:
- Put hand against wall at shoulder height
- Press heel of hand against wall with fingers pointing down or turned round to be as close as can be managed to vertical
- Turn head to look in opposite direction
- Repeat with other arm
Neck – lateral flexion
Technique:
- Lean head to one side
- Continue moving head so that ear moves closer to shoulder
- Hold position
- Repeat other side
Chest
Technique:
- Sit on floor with arms outstretched behind
- With head up, slide forward until stretch is felt across chest and bicep
- Thrust chest forward to further maximize stretch
Technique:
- Lie on stability ball as shown in picture
- Stretch out upper arm
- Continue to stretch out upper arm away from body until stretch is felt in latsarea
Shoulder
Technique:
- Sweep one outstretched arm across body
- Position other arm above elbow of outstretched arm
- Apply pressure to outstretched arm
- Repeat with other shoulder
Back (relax)
Technique:
- Carefully ease back onto stability ball
- Position ball in hollow of lower back
- Allow body to completely relax across ball




















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