Hamstring Stretch in Doorway

Picture of the hamstring stretch in a doorway
  • Lie on your back in a doorway, with one leg through the open door.
  • Slide your leg up the wall to straighten your knee. You should feel a gentle stretch down the back of your leg. Hold the stretch for at least 1 minute. As the days go by, add a little more time until you can relax and let these muscles stretch for as much as 6 minutes for each leg.
    • Do not arch your back.
    • Do not bend either knee.
    • Keep one heel touching the floor and the other heel touching the wall. Do not point your toes.
  • Repeat with your other leg.
  • Do 2 to 4 times for each leg.

If you do not have a place to do this exercise in a doorway, there is another way to do it:

  • Lie on your back and bend the knee of the leg you want to stretch.
  • Loop a towel under the ball and toes of that foot, and hold the ends of the towel in your hands.
  • Straighten your knee and slowly pull back on the towel. You should feel a gentle stretch down the back of your leg. It is hard to hold this stretch with a towel for a long time, but hold the stretch for at least 15 to 30 seconds. One minute or more is even better.
  • Repeat with your other leg.
  • Do 2 to 4 times for each leg.

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Joan Rigg, PT, OCS - Physical Therapy

Current as ofMarch 21, 2017

Current as of: March 21, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Joan Rigg, PT, OCS - Physical Therapy