Why are my hamstrings always so tight? Particularly more so these days than, say, 6 months ago. When I try to do stretches after exercise they are the most tense of all my leg muscles. They are more flexible just after weight training, and the least flexible (naturally) two and three days afterward. I am not a particularly flexible person but not so stiff either, I can usually touch my toes no problem. Am I training them too hard (deadlifts once weekly)? Is there anything I can do to loosen them up? When I had a trainer he would use resistance (10 seconds of my pushing against, to fatigue, then stretching more, then 10 more seconds of pushing etc) to loosen the muscle and I try this technique on myself with a lesser degree of success. Even as I am walking around, or sitting, I can feel that the hamstrings are tight. I would really like to increase the flexibility so any suggestions are welcome. My current method of stretching is to lean into the muscle (see below) and slowly move lower as I breathe out, then maintain the position on inhalation, then try to release/lower more as I exhale again. Hold for a while, release, then stretch again.

On a slightly different, yet related note, yesterday when I was stretching (one leg out straight, one leg bent, leaning forward) I was trying to keep my back straight instead of rounded but suddenly I had a terrible muscle spasm in my right abdomen, I have never felt such a thing. And now it still feels slightly strange. I suppose my abs were trying to pull my upper body lower (bad). Just a muscle spasm, or was it something terrible? It is higher than the groin, lower than the ribcage. Now I am not sure if that weird feeling is the abs or an internal organ or something! Any idea what this is?