Q&A for How to Improve Your Leg Flexibility

Stretch regularly to make your everyday activities easier. The reason your legs can get really tight is because your hips and groin are a really intricate system of different tendons, joints, cartilage, bone, and muscle. It's the moving force behind all of the moving, lifting, and walking you do throughout the day, and it really needs to be stretched thoroughly.

Try a straddle stretch to open your hips. A straddle stretch is one of the best ways to improve the flexibility in your legs, and it's exactly what it sounds like—a stretch where you straddle the floor. To do it, get down on your knees and open your knees to about 2 1/2 feet wide. Then, fit your pelvic girdle down toward your right leg and shift your hips to push down that way. Then, slide over to your left leg, and continue going back and forth.

Yep! To stretch your hamstrings, create a V with your legs while you're standing, then reach towards the floor from the center of your body. To stretch your quadriceps, use a pole or wall to brace yourself, then grab your foot and pull your leg backward.

Stretch your major muscle groups every day. For instance, do a standing stretch with a stool to loosen up your hips. Stand close to a wall or something you can hold on to and place one leg on a stool. Then, reach down sideways toward the foot that's on the floor. To stretch your calf muscles and IT band, try going to a wall, and putting your foot up against it. Then, press your knee toward the wall while your foot is in an upright position.

Yes, it will definitely help you. The more you stretch, the more flexible your legs will become.

I am a figure skater myself, and if I'm being honest, flexibility wasn't required until later on. That being said, if you're extremely stiff, that won't help you. You can always look up stretches online and teach yourself; that's what I did. You also want to make sure that you don't overstretch yourself. That can be very unpleasant and painful.

Yes, stretching is beneficial for your health and your muscles.

Try over splits, the ring stretch, scorpion, and bow and arrow, to name a few. You have a good start. Applying your flexibility is the fun part.

It'll depend on how many times you stretch per week, on your flexibility goals, and how flexible you are to start with. In general, if you stretch for about 30 minutes a day, four to five times a week, you will likely find stretches a little easier to do each time. You should find yourself noticeably more flexible within four to six weeks if you keep up your regular routine. Don't be discouraged if you have to bend your knees during stretches, or otherwise modify a pose. It's better to modify a stretch and make it a little easier when you're just starting out to avoid hurting yourself.

Touch your toes and hold the position as long as you can; this will improve flexibility, posture, and balance. Check out wikiHow's article on stretching for splits for some additional tips.

You can easily do the splits or butterfly in bed. Also, try lying down on your back, grabbing either leg with both arms, and pulling it as close to your head as you can.

Try stretching your hamstrings before sitting cross-legged. Stretch a little bit every day and you should see a difference pretty quickly.