# Can i make myself do a split? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048 "2004-01-18T03:11:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/1 "2004-01-18T03:11:04Z")
I’ve given myself this idea that if i stretch my legs apart and hold a stretching position long enough, i will eventually be able to do a full split. Is there any harm in this “thought” or am i totally wrong in doing this whole thing? I’m just taking it a little bit at a time and hoping after a few weeks i’ll be able to fall right on my crotch and amaze people (assuming i don’t land right on my sweets). ---
**Author:** ![Headcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Headcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headcoat)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/2 "2004-01-18T03:18:37Z")
You should be able to eventually, but definitely not in a few weeks. Those are some big, stubborn ligs and tendons in your hamstring that’s gotta be stretched and loosened. How close are you to a full split right now? I used to be able to do full splits as a youngster, but I can’t get past about 120 degrees now. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/3 "2004-01-18T03:56:28Z")
Without sitting my body-size protractor, i’d wager my legs are about 100/110 degrees apart. Are any certain stretches better than others? Here’s what i do: –both legs straight out bend straight at the waist –both legs far apart bend straight at the waist –both legs far apart bend towards each leg –1 leg straight, other leg crossed on top of straight leg knee bend waist straight –legs bent, heels together, push knees towards floor with elbows So how much damage am i doing to myself? ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/4 "2004-01-18T04:00:37Z")
as long as you arent streching til it hurts or “bouncing” durring streches then its all good. no harm at all just take it slow. ---
**Author:** ![Daikona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Daikona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daikona)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/5 "2004-01-18T04:07:24Z")
> [@SlickRoenick](#): > > So how much damage am i doing to myself? Assuming you’re stretching correctly, not pushing too far too fast and hurting yourself (which you’ll know if you do, it’ll hurt), stretching isn’t going to damage you. ---
**Author:** ![Gairloch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@Gairloch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gairloch)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/6 "2004-01-18T04:14:18Z")
“Can I make myself do a split?” Yes. Stand on your head, spread your legs slightly, and have a friend drop a piano on you. Works every time. Gairloch. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/7 "2004-01-18T22:08:52Z")
That’s **G** , your’s is like, the microwaveable version b/c it’s faster. I think i’ll stick with putting my pot pies in the oven though, even if it does take longer. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/8 "2004-01-19T15:07:36Z")
just remember that you have to _grow_ your muscles, ligaments and tendons to teir new lengths. It’s not like stretching silly putty. Stretch comfortably and **very often**. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/9 "2004-01-19T20:08:14Z")
Yes. Stretch several times a day. Never stretch cold, though (makes it a lot easier to pull a muscle). Do some light exercise first. When stretching, exhale as you go down. It helps, I don’t know why. Hold it for about 30 seconds, come back up. Repeat a few times, trying to a little lower each time. Also, your body knows its limits. STretching is supposed to feel a little bit uncomfortable. But if something doesn’t feel right, stop doing it immediately. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/10 "2004-01-19T22:41:56Z")
All the the previous advice is good (go slow, no bouncing, hold the stretches), but I would also add that you may want to consider increasing flexability in ALL of your ligaments - it decreases the risk of injuring yourself doing almost any sport, and you can dazzle your friends and impress your colleagues with feats other than a full Russian split. For example, slapping both feet behind your head is always good for a party trick. ---
**Author:** ![lawboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c67d28/32.png) [@lawboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawboy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-myself-do-a-split/225048/11 "2004-01-19T22:42:25Z")
When I was teaching Tae Kwon Do, I would tell my students to warm a bit, barely starting a sweat. Do lose kicks to the air, don’t concentrate on form. Do this until you start to feel warm. Then do some form of calestenics (sp?) until you get a little sweat. Then do leg raises, literally, standing on one leg and gradually try to get your foot past the top of your head (10 max, each leg, slow and gradual, don’t push yourself, don’t concentrate on form). Then, you can start working on your splits. Figure 10-20 mins/day. Take at least two days off. This one girl (one of the other teachers) said she got 90% there in one semester. It took me about year, but I wasn’t that keen on stretching. This other dude, on his off days, would lie on his back with his butt against the wall and let his legs fall into a split. He would do it for like 30 mins or an hour, or however long his favorite show was, and read a book.