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Recovery: Lower Body

Some helpful stretches for the lower body. Good for skiing or trail running!

Daniel Leung avatar
Written by Daniel Leung
Updated over a year ago

Group:

Type:

Target:

Stretch

Hips / Low Back

Ball Roll / Theragun

Hips / Knee

Foam Roll + Theragun

Quads / Knee

Stretch + Theragun

Quads / Knee

Stretch

Hamstrings

Stretch

Calves

IT Bands

Stretch + Theragun

Hips

Leg Swings

Dynamic Stretch

Hips

Hip Flexors:

  • Kneel on one knee with the other foot in front, forming a 90-degree angle.

  • Push your hips forward, feeling a stretch in the front of the hip of the kneeling leg.

  • Hold for 15-30 seconds and switch legs.

TFL:

  • You can try, but myself nor anyone else I know has been successful at stretching their TFL (usually ends stretching your side back/core instead...)

    • Sit on the floor with your legs extended.

    • Cross your right ankle over your left knee.

    • Gently press down on your right knee to feel the stretch in your right hip.

    • Switch sides and repeat.

  • The best way to go at the TFL is to target it with a lacrosse ball roll, or the easiest is using the Theragun!

Quads:

Inner:

  • Stand on one leg and bring your other heel toward your booty.

  • Hold your ankle with your hand, keeping your knees close together.

  • Maintain an upright posture and feel the stretch in the front of your thigh.

  • Hold for 15-30 seconds and switch legs.

Outer:

  • Go at the outside of your quads with a Theragun, or plank with a foam roller

Hamstrings:

  • Sit on the floor with one leg extended straight and the sole of the other foot against the inner thigh of the extended leg.

  • Reach forward toward your toes, keeping your back straight.

  • Hold for 15-30 seconds and switch legs.

Calves:

  • Stand facing a wall with your hands pressed against it.

  • Step one foot back, keeping it straight, and bend the front knee.

  • Feel the stretch in the calf of the back leg.

  • Hold for 15-30 seconds and switch legs.

IT Bands:

  • Stand with your feet hip-width apart and cross your right leg over your left.

  • Reach your right arm overhead to the left side.

  • Feel the stretch along the outer side of your right leg.

  • Hold for 15-30 seconds and switch sides.

Leg Swings:

  • Stand next to a support, like a wall, and swing one leg forward and backward in a controlled manner.

  • Repeat with the other leg.

  • Then, swing your leg side to side.

  • This helps warm up your hip joints and increases flexibility.

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