Foward flexion

[Jimnast]

Pavel said it's not good to apply relaxed stretches for long periods of time to foward flexion stretches such as the toe touch stretch. Does this apply to the roadkill splits?

[Dobi]

no, it does not apply to readkill splits. prolonged frontbending is bad for the ligaments around your spine. in a roadkillsplit your spine if nearly straight, so there should be no problem.

[Jimnast]

Ok thanks.

[Ashtar]

Is it all forms of front-bending, or does it have to do with how force is exerted?

The strain on the ligaments (and muscles) is very different if you're doing a front bend standing, sitting, or inverted (feet in air).

[Dobi]

sure, the more force you apply to the front bending, the worse it gets. but i dont see any need to do much frontbending with the spine. sure, hip flexibility is good and important, but functional hamstring flexibility would be unilateral. and flexibility in the lower back is almost never necessary except you re a contortionist :wink:
hip and upper back flexibility is much more important.

generally i think static stretching for the hamstrings is overrated.

[Ashtar]

I think flexibility in the lower back would be pretty good, all muscles have to relax sometimes, just so long as they can also squeeze hard.

No one is discounting a 1-legged front bend :)

I for one can think of a major advantage to the ability to flex your spine to an extreme degree. Ultimate independance.