# Can you touch your elbows behind your back? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2007, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042 "2007-08-18T07:46:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/1 "2007-08-18T07:46:53Z")
While reading a thread in GQ about nails and clothing removal, I got thinking about this age-old question. While it’s often asked in conjuction with certain puerile interests at heart, I got to wondering whether it’s possible at all. If so, who can do it? And, if you can, let’s see some pics 😛 ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/2 "2007-08-18T08:24:56Z")
deleted double ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/3 "2007-08-18T08:25:51Z")
What is with your obsession with elbows touching stuff? 😕 Oh, and your other thread had a lot more effort. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/4 "2007-08-18T09:10:28Z")
Triple post! (I was asked for clarification about my sarcastic remark) With pleasure, I would like to present to you: [God damnit, I cant lick my fucking elbow!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=420649) ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/5 "2007-08-18T09:13:28Z")
If I clasp my hands together first, yes. Without even sticking my chest out much. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/6 "2007-08-18T17:47:37Z")
I used to be quite flexible, but I don’t think I could ever do that. I once could touch the sole of my foot to the top of my head, but my poor old knees put the kibosh on that. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/7 "2007-08-19T05:29:36Z")
Well,…owwww!..I can’t. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/8 "2007-08-19T05:57:03Z")
Just to be clear, you’re talking about touching the elbows _to each other_ behind the back, right? Because I’m a pretty flexible fella, and I can’t get my elbows within four inches of each other back there. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/9 "2007-08-19T06:42:22Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] **Can you touch your elbows behind your back?** [/QUOTE] Why would I want to? ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/10 "2007-08-19T06:46:09Z")
I’m pretty flexible and they don’t even come close to touching. Frakking elbows, can’t lick them or touch them together… ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/11 "2007-08-19T09:32:58Z")
It’s not good, but I swear it’s me, taken on my phone-cam earlier tonight. [Here.](http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r252/magdalen93/elbowstouching.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/12 "2007-08-19T14:52:39Z")
[QUOTE=MerryMagdalen] It’s not good, but I swear it’s me, taken on my phone-cam earlier tonight. [Here.](http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r252/magdalen93/elbowstouching.jpg) [/QUOTE] I’m guessing that isn’t the picture he was looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/13 "2007-08-19T15:19:39Z")
[QUOTE=MerryMagdalen] It’s not good, but I swear it’s me, taken on my phone-cam earlier tonight. [Here.](http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r252/magdalen93/elbowstouching.jpg) [/QUOTE] Good lord, woman! That’s incredible! What other super powers do you have? ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/14 "2007-08-19T20:31:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Good lord, woman! That’s incredible! What other super powers do you have? I can bend over backwards and I can pop my right shoulder in and out of the socket if I stretch my arms over my head. It’s freaky looking. ---
**Author:** ![Incensed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Incensed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incensed)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/15 "2007-08-19T21:54:49Z")
**Autolycus** you &%^$#. I tried and it sounded like someone stomped on a walnut. And now my lats are cramping. Sadist. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/16 "2007-08-19T22:44:55Z")
Not only can I not touch my elbows to each other, but I can’t touch my elbow with the opposite hand. A brand new way to realize how fat and unlimber I am. Woot! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/17 "2007-08-19T23:57:19Z")
I can do it too. No pics until I get batteries. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/18 "2007-08-19T23:58:41Z")
Hey, **Autolycus** , how 'bout I come over and touch \*\*\*your \*\*\*elbows behind your back? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/19 "2007-08-20T03:06:54Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] Hey, **Autolycus** , how 'bout I come over and touch \*\*\*your \*\*\*elbows behind your back? :dubious: [/QUOTE] Only if we take turns. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042/20 "2007-08-20T03:29:06Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] Why would I want to? [/QUOTE] It’s a bondage thing. Specifically, ropes or a zip/lace-up sheath binding hands up to elbows. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-touch-your-elbows-behind-your-back/416042.md?page=2)