Front spilt influencing side split?

[Guest]

Just one question:
If I only practice to achieve the front split, it should also influence my
progress on doing the side split, isn´t it?
Theoretically, the same muscles should be stretched, if I stretch on both
sides ...

Then if I´m sitting in the front split, I would just need to turn my trunk
to the side and turn the front leg, then I should get into the side split.

Well, that´s just my theory, please tell me, if I´m wrong!

[wynnema]

The front split mainly stretches the hamstring muscles. The side split mainly stretches thw addcutor (inner thigh) muscles. So theoretically you are wrong.

[mmeloon]

Just one question:
If I only practice to achieve the front split, it should also influence my
progress on doing the side split, isn´t it?
Theoretically, the same muscles should be stretched, if I stretch on both
sides ...

As wynnema points out, the muscles are actually different. If you want to get technical, the adductors and hamstrings are not 100% independent. I've been recovering from a hamstring injury and my doctor wanted me to do both hamstring and adductor stretches. A muscle rarely exists in isolation and usually has some influence on surrounding muscles. So it's good to practice several different types of stretches.

Then if I´m sitting in the front split, I would just need to turn my trunk
to the side and turn the front leg, then I should get into the side split.

Well, that´s just my theory, please tell me, if I´m wrong!

[wynnema]

Actually having recently watched Secrets of Stretching Kurz suggests that short adductors are the main reason that most people can't do front and side splits.

[Thomas Kurz]

Just one question:
If I only practice to achieve the front split, it should also influence my
progress on doing the side split, isn´t it?
Theoretically, the same muscles should be stretched, if I stretch on both
sides ...

Then if I´m sitting in the front split, I would just need to turn my trunk
to the side and turn the front leg, then I should get into the side split.

Well, that´s just my theory, please tell me, if I´m wrong!

Here is my answer from the last e-mailing:
Would, should, theorize... Why not just do it and see what happens?
Or else, pay attention to the explanation of the Test of Flexibility Potential
shown in "Stretching Scientifically" and on "Secrets of Stretching."

I can tell you how your plan is likely to work: If you do not
practice specific side-split stretches you are not likely to see an
immediate transfer of your front split range of motion (ROM) into a
side split. The reason is obvious to anyone who has read and tried
the Test of Flexibility Potential for side split.

Once you are 2-4 inches away from the full (flat) side split,
however, doing front splits on both sides may improve your side
split. This is because in the front split with the rear leg turned
out so the inner thigh faces the floor (as I show on "Secrets of
Stretching"), you can concentrate on one inner thigh at a time and
tense each even harder than when you tense them together in the
side split. This translates into greater gains of strength and ROM.