Over the last few days, I have discussed hip flexors and their importance in our overall health and performance.
Today, I wanted to go through a simple test that will help you identify if you have tight hip flexors.
Now, let me show you the simple test that you can do.
~ Rick Kaselj
In this video, I wanted to go through a simple test to see if you have tight hip flexors.
I get Donnalee to demonstrate it.
Lie on your back and straighten out your legs. While you are in this position for 60 seconds to 90 seconds, check three things:
- Do I feel tightness in my quads, hips, and back?
- Do I feel pulling on my hip and pulling on my low back?
- Does it feel like I have an increased curve in my lower back? Or does it feel like there’s lots of space when I put my hand under my back?
Those are the three questions you ask yourself while in this position for about 60 to 90 seconds.
When you have your legs straight, you are putting a stretch on your hip flexors. The shorter they are, the more they affect and impact the tightness and pulling in your low back. At about 60 to 90 seconds, bend your legs to decrease the stretch on the hip flexor.
Now that you have bent your knees ask yourself about that tightness in the quads, hips, and back.
- Has it decreased a lot compared to the legs being straight?
- Has that pulled drastically decreased in the hip and the back?
- Has that curve decreased significantly by putting your hand under your back to check and confirm?
There you go! Look at your answers to those questions. If you have a lot of tightness in your quad, hips, and back, that is a good sign of tightness in your hip flexors.
If you have a lot of pulling on your hip and your low back, that is a good sign of tightness in your hip. Also, when you are lying with your legs straight and have a big curve in your lower back, that is a sign that you have a tight hip flexor.
If you have any of those signs, you need to address the hip flexor tightness because it can greatly affect your health and performance. It may also increase your risk of injury and slow down your recovery from injury.
Enter in your injury or pain. There’s a good chance I have an article, an interview, or a video to help you overcome injury or pain. Make sure to swing by ExercisesForInjuries.com.
Take care!
Rick Kaselj, MS
If you want to bring vitality back into your life to be strong, active, and energetic while boosting your immune system, sexual function, and athletic performance, then click here to check out the Unlock Your Hip Flexors program.
