Supported Straight-Leg Raise | Assisted stretch in 3D
Supported Straight-Leg Raise: supine, hamstrings and hip flexion. Preparation, 4 movement phases, points to check and cautions, with a 3D model you can pause and rotate.
Position and focus
Supine · Hamstrings and hip flexion
An assisted stretch for the hamstrings and hip flexion, observing contact, stabilisation and compensation separately.
Starting position
The client lies supine with both legs straight. The trainer stands on the left side, supports the heel from underneath and places the other hand on the front of the knee.
Movement phases
1. Support the leg
Keeping the knee straight, lift the leg slightly.
2. Raise the leg
Support the knee so it does not bend, and raise the leg from the hip.
3. Check the response
Check the stretch in the back of the thigh and any lifting of the other leg or the pelvis.
4. Lower the leg
Keep supporting the leg as you lower it to the table.
What the trainer checks
Check that the knee is not bending and that the other leg is not lifting.
Instructor information
Trainer position
Stand on the client's left (the side shown in the 3D) with your feet apart front to back, at a height that suits the table. Move by shifting your body weight rather than holding with the arms alone.
Contact and support
Support the heel from underneath with the palm and place the other hand on the front of the knee.
Stabilisation
The other leg rests on the table. If it lifts, reduce the range.
Compensation
Bending of the knee, posterior pelvic tilt, lifting of the other leg.
Easier option
Reduce the range and let the weight of the leg or arm rest on a cushion or the table. Go back to checking a pain-free starting position.
Cues and consent
Tell the client where you will touch and which way you will move, and say, 'Tell me straight away if you feel any pain or discomfort.' Confirm consent before touching and before moving.
Stop criteria
Return to the starting position immediately if the client reports sharp pain, numbness, weakness, a pinching feeling in the joint, dizziness, shortness of breath or anxiety, or asks to stop.
Caution
Work within your qualifications, contract and studio procedures, and check medical history, medication and any pain before starting. This is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Do not perform unfamiliar techniques from the 3D alone.
These English notes describe a prototype model. Stretch and foam roller lessons have not yet been reviewed by the supervising instructors. They are not medical advice or an individual exercise prescription.
References and scope
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS — Stretching Exercises with Assistance ↗
For helpers: where to support and how to move the shoulder (raising and opening), elbow and wrist, double knee hug, knee rolls, inner thigh, front of the hip lying on the side, front and back of the thigh, and ankle.
