Networked Learning Project Blog Post #2

 I have officially come to my first roadblock in the process of achieving my splits: a previous injury to my hamstrings. 

The progress on my left splits 16 days apart.

When I was in high school, I developed tendinitis in my hamstrings and had to go to physical therapy for around 6 months.  While physical therapy did help, I never got the full elasticity of those tendons back. Now, as I am embarking on the journey to achieve my splits, the hamstring injury is rearing its ugly head again. Whenever I stretch, I find my hip flexors wanting to stretch further into the exercises, but the hamstrings act like a barrier to getting deeper into the stretch. However, I have found two new resources from TikTok that are promising to help this by changing up the way I am stretching my splits. One of the videos is an untitled video by Gia Rey, and the other is Front splits! This is the best way in my opinion to achieve them by user movementbydavid.

The progress on my right splits 16 days apart.

While thinking back on my previous injury, I can't help but think about why this is still a problem a decade later. After rereading my notes on Bransford et al. (2000), I think I may have figured it out. When I was in High School, I never learned that you need to stretch after you work out in order to prevent muscles from tensing up after rigorous movement (this caused tendinitis). Bransford et al. (2000) says that if misunderstandings (not stretching post-workout) aren't built upon, the student won't achieve a mature understanding of the topic (p.10). Due to the fact that my stretching misconception wasn't corrected, I am now relearning the correct way to ease my body into flexibility. While there has been some progress, I still have a long way to go.

Now that I know how to stretch properly, I can use the new teachings to become more flexible.

Track My Progress with Me!

NETWORKED LEARNING PROJECT BLOG #1

NETWORKED LEARNING PROJECT BLOG POST #3

References:

Bransford, J., Brown, A.L. & Cocking, R. R. (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience and school. National Academy Press. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309070368.

Ray, G. (2022, June 25). Untitled [video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@giabelleray/video/7113234902925036843