Hamstring-SMR

A beginner isolation mobility exercise that works the hamstrings, using a foam roller.

Hamstring-SMR — Starting position Starting position
Hamstring-SMR — End position End position
Difficulty Beginner
Type Stretching
Equipment Foam Roller
Primary Muscle Hamstrings
Logged As Time held

How to Do Hamstring-SMR

  1. In a seated position, extend your legs over a foam roll so that it is position on the back of the upper legs. Place your hands to the side or behind you to help support your weight. This will be your starting position.
  2. Using your hands, lift your hips off of the floor and shift your weight on the foam roll to one leg. Relax the hamstrings of the leg you are stretching.
  3. Roll over the foam from below the hip to above the back of the knee, pausing at points of tension for 10-30 seconds. Repeat for the other leg.

Muscles Worked

Back

Primary

Where Hamstring-SMR does most of its work.

Alternatives to Hamstring-SMR

10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.

  1. 1 Hamstring Stretch

    Hamstring Stretch

    A beginner isolation mobility exercise that works the hamstrings.

    beginner Not specified
  2. 2 Leg-Up Hamstring Stretch

    Leg-Up Hamstring Stretch

    A beginner isolation mobility exercise that works the hamstrings.

    beginner Not specified
  3. 3 Seated Floor Hamstring Stretch

    Seated Floor Hamstring Stretch

    A beginner mobility exercise that works the hamstrings.

    beginner Not specified
  4. 4 Standing Hamstring and Calf Stretch

    Standing Hamstring and Calf Stretch

    A beginner mobility exercise that works the hamstrings.

    beginner Not specified
  5. 5 Lying Hamstring

    Lying Hamstring

    An advanced mobility exercise that works the hamstrings.

    advanced Not specified
  6. 6 Seated Hamstring

    Seated Hamstring

    An advanced mobility exercise that works the hamstrings.

    advanced Not specified
  7. 7 Seated Hamstring and Calf Stretch

    Seated Hamstring and Calf Stretch

    An intermediate mobility exercise that works the hamstrings.

    intermediate Not specified
  8. 8 Chair Leg Extended Stretch

    Chair Leg Extended Stretch

    A beginner isolation mobility exercise that works the hamstrings.

    beginner Not specified
  9. 9 Front Leg Raises

    Front Leg Raises

    A beginner mobility exercise that works the hamstrings, needing no equipment.

    beginner No Equipment
  10. 10 Inchworm

    Inchworm

    A beginner compound mobility exercise that works the hamstrings, needing no equipment.

    beginner No Equipment

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles do hamstring-smr work?

Hamstring-SMR primarily works the hamstrings.

What equipment do I need for hamstring-smr?

Hamstring-SMR uses foam roller.

Hamstring-SMR: is it suitable for beginners?

Yes. Hamstring-SMR is rated beginner. Movements you can learn in a session, with a low skill floor and a forgiving failure mode.

What can I do instead of hamstring-smr?

Hamstring Stretch, Leg-Up Hamstring Stretch, Seated Floor Hamstring Stretch train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.

How do I log hamstring-smr in Fitnit?

As time held rather than reps. Fitnit records the seconds and credits them to the hamstrings on your body map, so you can see which muscles you train hard and never stretch.

Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.

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