ASCCP Guidelines; Clinical Practice Questions (Members Only) Committee Opinions; Other Guidelines; Colposcopy Standards Recommendations; Patient Resources
Purpose: Strengthen the hamstrings muscles without having to move the knee. Starting Position: Sit in a chair with your heel against the leg of the chair and your feet firmly on the floor. Action: Press your heel firmly backwards into the chair leg feeling the back of your thigh tightening/clenching.
The hamstring muscles actively bend (flex) the knee. They also act to straighten or (extend) the hip (as in the motion of moving the thigh backward). Surprisingly, these large muscles are not very active with normal walking or standing. However, they are extremely important in power activities such as running, jumping, and climbing.