There are simple ways to relax your hip flexors after you’ve done some stretches and strengthening exercises.
I hope you enjoyed the interview yesterday.
Today, I have 2 Easy Ways to Relax Your Hip Flexors.
Enjoy the article below, or check out the YouTube video.
Have a great day!
Rick Kaselj, MS
My friend Chris asked me, “How do your hip flexors affect your back?”
When it comes to the hip flexors, there are two parts. One of your quadriceps is part of your hip flexors, which contributes to hip movement, and the deep inner pelvis connected to your spine is another set of hip flexors. These two are the rectus femoris in the quadriceps and the psoas and iliacus in the deep inner pelvis.
I had Orsy demonstrate what happens in your low back. In a side view, if we are in a good posture, our low back is in a good position.
But if hip flexors are tight, it changes that curve in your lower back.
It tilts the pelvis forward and increases the curve in the lower back. Losing or changing that curve in the lower back puts us at greater risk of back injury and pain.
We want to ensure that those hip flexors have good flexibility and movement, especially if you do a lot of sitting throughout the day, like driving, computer, or office work. Sitting too much shortens up the hip flexors, putting your back at greater risk of injury.
There are two stretches that you can do.
1. Standing Hip Flexor Stretch
Take a big step with your front foot flat on the ground and your back foot on your toe. Bring your hips forward slightly and look for a stretch in your hip area. Tighten your abdominal area and glutes.
Repeat twice on each side and hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds. This stretch can be done anywhere. You can do it even at work.
2. 90-90 Hip Flexor Stretch
This stretch is slightly more intense.
Come down into a low lunge position, with both legs at a 90-degree bend. Tighten your abdominal area and glutes in an upright position, and then bring your hips forward. To stretch out more of the hip flexor in the quadriceps, stretch twice on each side and hold for 20 seconds.
Tighten your abdominal area, bringing your hips forward, and stretch out that rectus femoris. Once again, this is something that you can easily do anywhere to stretch out that hip flexor and counteract all the shortening that you have throughout the day from sitting, driving, and working at the office.
Quick Tip from Chris
There you go, Chris! That is a quick tip regarding why and how the hip flexors can affect your back and why it’s important to loosen up those hip flexors and have good movement within them.
Make sure to swing by ExercisesForInjuries.com. , Enter your injury or pain into the search bar on the top right of the screen. There is a good chance I have a video, an interview, or a blog post on your injury or pain. There is a good chance I have something for you that will help you.
Second, if you watch this on YouTube, head above and hit “Subscribe.” Every couple of days, you will receive a video like this, a guest video from one of my friends in the fitness world, or an interview that I have done with one of my friends in the fitness world.
Third, head down below hit “Like,” and leave me a comment or question.
Take care!
Rick Kaselj, MS
If you want to learn a simple step-by-step guide to help you overcome your tight hip flexors, click here to check out the Unlock Your Hip Flexors program.
