IdealStretch + Wedge

Works far better than a Yoga Strap! Almost like having a trainer provide isolated stretch and pressure on the hamstring and lower back. Easy to use!

My physical therapist suggested I get this.

Exercise is one of my least favorite things, but with a knee replacement recently I was in desperate need of help stretching. This device was recommended by my doctor. It looked like some kind of torture tool, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't nearly as painful as anticipated. It definitely helped me over the hump in getting back some range of motion after the surgery. I do think the price is pretty high. My PT told me until recently they ran about half what I paid. For that reason alone a deducted a star.

This device was recommended by my physical therapist. It is worth every penny! I have problem arthritic knees. A gentle one minute stretch 2 or 3 times ma day has already improved my knee mobility. I highly recommend it. Probably best to check with an MD or PT first to be sure it is appropriate for your issue.

You need some steady arm strength to use this device, but even if you don't have that strength starting out, as I didn't, you will have it after a week of two of use. You can see from the picture what the concept is. One strap just below your knee and one just behind your ankle, and a place to grip and pull back. It works exactly as it appears it will work, and it's excellent. I had some hesitation at first because of the angle and the strength of the pulling and holding that's required to do it properly - I don't mean yanking, but do this at all seriously, you have to hold it in position for at least a minute or longer, and you have to stretch in steps, so you hold it for a while, extending and breathing into it and relaxing your hamstrings as they're stretched, then work a little deeper, hopefully intelligently and thoughtfully so nothing is forced in the wrong way, and that's actually a strength thing to be able to do it steadily for a long enough period of time. The first week I found it a bit more than I enjoyed, arm-wise, but as things do go with exercise, even stretching, the body is made to evolve and develop strength as you use it, and now, during the second or third week, my arms are enjoying it just fine, and they can pull and hold in that position comfortably, which actually surprised me, in a positive way. Most people who exercise much at all won't find it a problem at all. And now I guess I'm one of them. I'd suggest this as a purchase if you're trying to stretch your hamstrings intelligently. I've tried it every other way - for decades. Yoga quite extensively, and I just hit a plateau. The problem with stretching the hamstring if yours are as tight as mine is that the pressure goes into the lower back before it reaches deep into the belly of the hamstring muscle, and even if you try it on your back using a strap, that's still a problem. Sitting and reaching forward or standing and reaching down are even worse. Some people probably never had that problem because they have hamstrings that were either stretched and elongated when they were young or they just aren't fundamentally tight. But for those of us who begin with tight hamstrings as adults, it's very difficult to stretch this muscle without some kind of an apparatus of a massage person helping. This device, though I've only had it a few weeks, is clearly a solution. I tried a different device as well, but I can't continue using it because it is bruising the entire area around and underneath my lowest rib to a degree that was scaring me before I figured out what was happening. And it is pushing more and more on the front inside of my hip in a way that is also more and more painful. But the bruising on and under my rib - I don't know exactly what's there, but it feels like actual organs are being compressed when I use it and the growing soreness that is getting worse and is likely to continue worsening isn't something I'm willing to go through. That soreness is there all day long and even at night when I move in bed. It's pretty awful. That device is done for me. This device is the one for me. This is the one that is left, and I look forward to continuing to use it.

I have all kinds of devices to help stretch my hamstrings, including yoga straps and calf stretchers, but this IdealStretch oddly does the best job over everything else. I think it’s the fact that it keeps your leg extended straight with the strap that goes against your knee, plus the sturdy handle to use with both hands. I bought the extra footpad and it does make a slight improvement in the amount of extension and stretch that you’re getting.

This is more comfortable to use than a strap, has good leverage and helps to protect the knee. It doesn’t help isolate the hamstring stretch from the lower back at all though, so if you, like me, find pain or discomfort in the lumbar area from doing hamstring stretches with a strap or doorframe, this won’t help. The hamstring king seems to do a better job isolating the hamstrings and protecting the lower back. Otherwise a well built product and a big step up from using a nylon strap! I found it way more comfortable for my hands, even if it didn’t help my back pain, at all. If you need to stretch your hamstrings but need to protect your knees, its a pretty good bet — barring any lower back pain.

great tool for stretching hamstrings and increasing extension after total knee replacement!

Same as at the physio department. Helps alot

I purchased the wedge combo. The product itself is good, but a bit overpriced. DVD was missing, but the seller has provided me an alternative solution. I find it easy to stretch my hamstring. Overall, I am happy with my purchase decision.

I'm undecided if this works better then a strap. It basically teacher to just under or on-top of the kneecap. When I do stretches it does not prevent my leg from bending, which was what I was hoping for. I don't believe it's worse then a strap, but I'm not sure it's worth the price difference. Returning would be a pain so I will keep using it and update my review if my feelings on this change.

Effective but very expensive. Took over 2 weeks to arrive.

Item arrived without dvd combo! $170 for what?! A couple of peices of metal! Follow the design and make your own! Guarantee That this cost mere pennies to manufacture! UPDATE: Contacted the seller. Took forever to get back to me and basically said I didn’t order the combo! What?! I am so peeved! This is a poor product, with bad customer service! UPDATE: This seller has been stringing me along for over two weeks now!! All I’m asking for is the wedge. AMAZON, GET THEM TO EITHER SEND ME THE MISSING PART OR REFUND MY MONEY! THIS IS REDICULOUS!! UPDATE: After three plus weeks of trying to get this company to send me my missisng wedge, they continue to gaslight me! I’m done!! Product is being shipoed back as I just can’t keep dealing with such incompetency!!