When our muscles are at the correct length, we increase the amount of oxygen (carried by the blood) flowing through our system. Most people are filling their capillary beds by 25% of their potential, says Katy Bowman, biomechanist, and author of Move Your DNA: Restore Your Health Through Natural Movement
Katy also states, “Long-term heel wearing has been shown to shorten the fibers in the lower leg by 13 percent.” Yikes, 13 percent! That means fewer capillaries, less oxygen, and less waste removal.
You can do your calf stretch at your dynamic workstation. Take a tour of my dynamic workstation HERE.
loved this. thanks for this important tip.
Wow, could this be my new favorite post? Um, yes!!
I sooo love your blogs little Mrs! happy holidays. love youx
Kombucha vs the calf stretch would be an epic showdown. Right up there with Mothra and Godzilla.
The calf stretch is free and kombucha costs at least $3 a bottle. Kombucha tastes good, but the calf stretch will improve your stride so you won’t be walking like a zombie on peg legs when you are 60 years old. Calf stretch WINS! But you can always drink your kombucha while doing the calf stretch. That would be a beautiful thing.
Awesome post! I think I am going to try to make this my new motto,”Reach for the half-dome…not the coffee.” or “A stretch in time saves my mind.”
Love it!
Oh, I like it!”A stretch in time saves the mind.”
Hi I’m a new reader. Where can I purchase a styrofoam half some?
Only online or at physical therapy offices? Thanks for your website
It’s been very informative and helpful!
Hi Emily, Thank you. You can purchase them on Amazon, here is a link,I just looked it up quickly, so you may want to shop around.
http://www.amazon.com/Fitness-Foam-Roller-Half-Round/dp/B0015V569S/ref=pd_sim_hpc_5
Hi!
Wonderful posts! I see the quad engagement/lean upper spine back a lot when it comes to placing the center of the mass over the heels, so thanks for sharing about that too.
As far as this post goes, is there a reason that stretching the calves energizes the body more effectively as opposed to say just stretching the upper body and getting more blood flow to the brain?
It is common knowledge that backbending poses help energize us and I’m assuming that is due to the increased blood flow and oxygen all the way up the spine.
I’m just curious. My own theory would be that since it is lower on the body the blood has to pump and take more oxygen all over the body which awakens us, but perhaps there is a more technical explanation?
Is a calf, backbend of different kind of stretch optimal for different situations?
Just very curious :D! I understand that we may all be still figuring this stuff out!
Thanks for commenting. Since it’s a closed circuit, increasing blood flow anywhere that it is restricted can help flow to the brain. Typical spots of tension seem to be calves, hamstrings, feet, shoulders, neck…hell anywhere:-). I like to start from the feet and work up since tension in the calves influence how we use our upper body.
Thanks so much for the great tips!
I’ve been trying this calf stretch and the hamstring stretch with my 10 yo daughter.
(Her ankles fall in, femurs are internally rotated, and bow legged so I wanted to do this to help her).
When she does this stretch her knees really hurt (on the leg doing the stretch). All I can see is that they are really straight as if they push back a little (hyperextend?); kneecaps seem relaxed because she can lift them if I ask. She refuses to try it with her femurs externally rotated as it hurts even more. As others have said on another of your posts- if she tries to externally rotate thighs – feet come up onto their sides. Also if she tries the hip list it hurts the knee on the leg she is standing on.
Is it Ok if she does the stretches this way (thighs rotated in) and maybe bends her knee/s just a little so that they won’t hurt?
Hi Jayne, Way to trouble shoot with making sure her kneecaps are down! I’m not in a position to give advice with someone I’m not seeing professionally, but if it were me with the painful knees, I would check for the following. I’m guessing you already checked for this, but I would also make sure her weight is over her back foot and her feet are forward, her ASIS and shoulders should be in the same plane. Is she using a styrofoam dome? If so, maybe it’s too high, she could try a rolled up towel. I wouldn’t do the stretch with bent knees, but letting her femurs rotate in for this stretch may be ok until she strengthens her lateral hips. I’m not a fan of forcing my body into alignment especially if there is pain. Katy did a video on lateral hip strength for kiddos,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yAbBLs0WNs Perhaps have her practice this for a while before doing the calf stretch again. I’ve found with most people it’s not hyperextension, but the internal rotation of the femurs that makes it appear that way. Tight feet can contribute to the problem. If that’s an issue for her, doing the foot on a ball stretch can help. Wearing flat shoes with a wide toe box that don’t constrict her feet is important so that they don’t get constricted in the first place. Is there a RES near you? It would be best to have someone see her to know specifically what is going on. Best to you and your daughter!
thanks so so much for your reply and all the tips! No RES near me unfortunately. I’m in Greenville, sc
You’re welcome. Give those a try and if you still feel like you need assistance, we can do a SKYPE appointment.