All-Star Get A Fierce Heel?

[Haniana]

I need to fix my heel before competition. At the moment, it looks horrible. Anyone who has some nice stretching advices? Im at the moment stretching every day at the evening, and will keep on doing this for about 50 more days.

 

[ChelleShocked]

What types of stretches are you doing? Make sure you hold them for a sufficient amount of time; when I first started cheering my coach would only have us hold stretches for ten seconds and it really didn't do much. Hold them for at the very minimum 30 seconds and even then that's not much. Don't cheat either. Even if it hurts, which it will, keep practicing and it will get easier. Also, know what your breaking point is - don't force yourself into any stretch if you truly can't do it because you'll end up tearing something.

When I was working toward my heel stretch, I would put my foot on one rung of the ladder on my brothers' bunk beds, hold my foot with my hand, and hold that for 2ish minutes. After a few days of stretching I would move it one or two rungs higher and do the same thing, and keep moving it higher until it was straight up. I'd also do partner stretches, putting my foot on someone's shoulder or having someone push my leg toward my head. Helped a lot.

I've always been told to sit in your splits and grab your foot; maybe I was doing it wrong but that never helped me... it might help you though, so it's worth a shot.

 

[Alexandria_1025]

get something round like a tube or ball then put it on the floor (flat surface) and role your foot on it

 

[youbetterwork]

I'll teach ya! (Mina stretchinlägg på YBW kommer nästa vecka!)

 

[CF1erce]

Small tip....make sure your muscles are warm BEFORE you try to stretch. We have our athletes warm up with 15 minutes of cardio, followed by 10-15 minutes of moderate conditioning, and THEN stretch out. You'll get better results with your flexibility if you warm up first. Also, try to stretch out immediately after practice, and then at least once again after you get out of the shower and before you go to bed.

 

[cheerforeverever]

Debbie Love's site has some great stuff for stretching: http://www.fortheloveoftumbling.com...h/Entries/2010/7/27_Flyer_Body_Positions.html
Also make sure than in addition to stretching you are strengthening that muscle so you will be able to hold that stretch in the air. Example at :23 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqsok_VmNpc
Just remember, always always always pull your stretch IN FRONT of your body (NOT to the side), and keep working at it every day!

 

[Haniana]

Thanks for all the great advice! Now I have something to work with =)