Can't feel hamstring stretches in my hamstrings

[TrickingCroatia]

Hi Mr. Kurz, hi everyone, I'm asking humbly for your help.

I've been trying to get the splits for a long time now(~2 years) and I'm really starting to worry about my lack of results. Long story short - I find it difficult to feel a stretch in my hamstrings when I do hamstring stretches. I feel them OK at first, when I start the stretching session, but as soon as the initial stiffness disappears I can't take it to the next level. Instead, the only stretch I feel is in the upper calf/behind the knee region, which is quite more painful than any other stretch and feels wrong.

I can put my palms on the floor with my legs straight, but only if I curve my back - the angle between my lower back and my legs still remains the same (~90°) and I don't really feel my hamstrings that much but more the area behind the knees. Not even sure if what I'm actually feeling are muscles or it's the tendons/ligaments. If I focus on tilting the pelvis forward and keeping the back straight the painful sensation somewhat decreases, but I still can't feel a satisfying stretch in the hamstring.


If I bend my knees slightly to remove the pressure from the area behind the knees, I just don't feel anything in my hamstrings at all.

Have you ever encountered someone with a similar problem? Is there something that could be done about it?
I'm really hoping to get the splits one day, as flexibility is crucial for my sport

Also, when I try side splits I don't really feel the stretch in my adductors but more in the inner knee area, I'm guessing the tendons (I am familiar with the correct side split position and tilting the pelvis forward), which could be linked.
I can do the butterfly stretch and pretty much any other stretch that doesn't include hamstrings very well and they all feel completely different than pikes.

I am an athletic 20-year-old guy with no previous leg injuries (my forward bend has always felt this way). I passed all splits potential tests with no problem.

Thank you for any insight!
and sorry for the essay

[Michael Kern]

my brother and I have the exact same problem, as do some of our friends.. the pain behind the knee makes actually stretching the hammies impossible.. it increases when the legs are straight and/or feet are flexed

a guy at the gym suggested it could be that our nerves are short.?? is that even a thing? never heard of it before.. if it is, how come its not a known condition, since a lot of folks seem to have it

we've tried foam rolling here and there, but it didnt seem to be helping.. so frustrating, we dont know what else to try...

please help

[Thomas Kurz]

the only stretch I feel is in the upper calf/behind the knee region, which is quite more painful than any other stretch and feels wrong.

my brother and I have the exact same problem, as do some of our friends.. the pain behind the knee makes actually stretching the hammies impossible.. it increases when the legs are straight and/or feet are flexed

Then stretch your calves before stretching your hamstrings.

If I focus on tilting the pelvis forward and keeping the back straight the painful sensation somewhat decreases, but I still can't feel a satisfying stretch in the hamstring.

a guy at the gym suggested it could be that our nerves are short.?? is that even a thing? never heard of it before.. if it is, how come its not a known condition, since a lot of folks seem to have it

Look up "nerve flossing."

Also, when I try side splits I don't really feel the stretch in my adductors but more in the inner knee area, I'm guessing the tendons (I am familiar with the correct side split position and tilting the pelvis forward), which could be linked.
I can do the butterfly stretch and pretty much any other stretch that doesn't include hamstrings very well and they all feel completely different than pikes.

Then don't try side splits. Instead do wide squats as shown on Flexibility Express.