10/13/2026
So many clients come into the clinic complaining of hamstring tightness because they cannot bend over and touch their toes. However, is it really your hamstrings that are preventing you from fully bending over or is it your low back. A test I like to use from the IPA is to block the pelvis into a slightly backwards tilt and have the patient bend forward.
In the case of Travis when his pelvis is blocked he is not able to touch his knees, showing that his low back is tight. When I let go of his pelvis and allow him to bend using his hamstring length he has even less mobility showing that his hamstrings are also tight, and they are tighter than his low back.
When I block Meg’s pelvis and have her bend forward she is tighter than Travis was, her hands do not get to her knees. But, when I let go of her pelvis she is able to get her palms flat on the floor. This shows that she has a lot of hamstring length, however she has a lot of low back tightness as well.
Ideally with the pelvis blocked then you should be able to bend forward and touch your knees and then with the pelvis not blocked you should be able to continue to bend all of the way and touch your hands to the ground. This is Julianna’s test.
