Heel Stretch Help!

[westviewwildcat]

I know there are a lot of heel stretch help threads so please bear with me :)

I have both my splits and even my middle ones but I can't seen to do a heel stretch for the life of me. My right foot is turned out 45 degrees to the right naturally, even when my knees are straight. It turns even more when I try to pull my heel stretch. Also, I can't seem to get my leg up higher than parallel to the floor but when I pull it to the side I can get it over my head. Any suggestions? I can include pictures if you guys need it. Thanks :)

 

[aht2p]

You might have the flexibility but you also need the strength to kick up your heel stretch and then to hold it too. This means you need to strength your hip flexors (leg kicks using elastic bands around the ankles are really good for this) also PNF stretching. Additionally, on the note about your leg turning out, make sure when you are doing the splits your hips are completely squared and not turned out.

 

[:) paigeypo :)]

This may sound weird but this helped me so much. Put your left leg on the couch or a high bed and right leg on the ground. You should be sitting on your right while stretching your left. Also kick your leg up in front of you and try to catch it. No matter what don't turn out your leg!

 

[Mamarazzi]

I really don't know specifics, but when my cp was working her heel stretch, her coach told her to point her toe to the inside. Her heel stretch went from good to really good with that one move. Good luck, sweet pea!

 

[Born2Tumble]

I really don't know specifics, but when my cp was working her heel stretch, her coach told her to point her toe to the inside. Her heel stretch went from good to really good with that one move. Good luck, sweet pea!

When you say point your toe to the inside, do you mean how they do almost in bow and arrows?

 

[Mamarazzi]

When you say point your toe to the inside, do you mean how they do almost in bow and arrows?

Almost rotating the foot toward the midline of the body.

 

[auscheerflyer]

I know there are a lot of heel stretch help threads so please bear with me :)

I have both my splits and even my middle ones but I can't seen to do a heel stretch for the life of me. My right foot is turned out 45 degrees to the right naturally, even when my knees are straight. It turns even more when I try to pull my heel stretch. Also, I can't seem to get my leg up higher than parallel to the floor but when I pull it to the side I can get it over my head. Any suggestions? I can include pictures if you guys need it. Thanks :)

Can you include some pictures? I think I am experiencing the same problem as you, so would be good to see and compare if these tips makes a difference :)

 

[Born2Tumble]

Almost rotating the foot toward the midline of the body.

Yup tried that tonight and it made a big difference, she was pulling that heel stretch so much further so thanks for the advice :)

 

[Mamarazzi]

Yup tried that tonight and it made a big difference, she was pulling that heel stretch so much further so thanks for the advice :)

Awesome!! :) So glad it worked!

 

[Aussiekat]

@Mamarazzi's tip is brilliant. She knows what my stretch looked like before (average) and now after a few months of working to pull it forward rather than to the side (much prettier). Gives you a lot more control in the air but you need a bit more flexibility to pull it, or at least that's what I found.

 

[HannahLou]

I'm very bad at visualising things, so do you mean rotate the top of the foot to the middle? So the sole of your foot is pointing to the left?