I cant feel my legs

[RabidMAT12]

I stretch a lot before and after training, but i just changed my martial arts session to a 2 hour long one with about 3/4 hour of stretching and managed to pull the muscles on the front of my thighs. I was wondering if anyone knows a way to stretch these muscles (other than pulling your leg behind you)?
Also there is a stretch where you go to the floor and stretch one of your legs out in front of you and put the other one out to the side to make an L shape then stretch your body forwards. Does anyone know what this stretches?
Thanks.

[Disciple]

The muscles on the front of your thighs are called your quadriceps. They are made of four individual muscles, hence the name QUADriceps. There isn't really a way to stretch these without pulling your leg back behind you.

The stretch you do on the floor stretches your hamstrings. Don't do this stretch with your foot turned out to the side, it's very hard on your knees.

[sk12879]

Originally posted by Disciple
The stretch you do on the floor stretches your hamstrings. Don't do this stretch with your foot turned out to the side, it's very hard on your knees.

Beat me to it. My instructor also has one where you kneel with your feet directly under your butt and sit down on your feet. Then you go back to stretch your quads. This one is also rather rough on the knees.

[RabidMAT12]

Thanks for the replys guys, its just that is the one area i pull in martial arts (except for the groin but not anymore).

[sk12879]

Originally posted by RabidMAT12
Thanks for the replys guys, its just that is the one area i pull in martial arts (except for the groin but not anymore).

I used to pull my left quad religiously at the beginning of every track season in high school. I would be on light duty for about 2 weeks while it healed and then be back in business, swearing that I would stretch much better from then out....and would be lax about it at the beginning of the next season for awhile too.

I think pulling your leg behind you is going to be the only way you can stretch it...I've found it works best if you hook your opposite hand around the ankle and then rather than pulling with your hand, push with the leg. That stretches my quads out nicely.