Stretching the hip flexors is a staple throughout the fitness industry.
There’s the Samson stretch, the runner’s stretch, pigeon pose, spiderman stretch, the frog, the couch stretch, and the list goes on.
There’s a million different ways to “open” the front of the hips. And of course, the abundance of stretches can only be attributed to the fact that there’s a demand. So many people report tight hip flexors and stretching them can feel really good.
But is it what YOU should be doing? Well, that depends. In my experience, when a muscle feels tight, it is tight for a reason.
There is generally some underlying instability or weakness for which it is compensating.
If we simply stretch the tight muscle without addressing the underlying instability or weakness, we make ourselves vulnerable to injury. Next time you notice something is tight, try to think about why that might be.
If you need help figuring it out, make an appointment to see us at Active Life Project. Fixing movement is our specialty.
You wouldn’t renovate a kitchen before addressing the house’s crumbling foundation so why do we do that with our bodies?
Breathing and stability form the foundation of all movement yet most of us can’t do either of those well. And then we wonder why we are having trouble mastering a complex lift, a new gymnastics skill, or an advanced sporting move.
The typical strategy is to simply keep trying the movement again and again in hopes that our body will eventually figure it out.
I’m here to tell you that there is a better way. Whether you’re a pro baseball player, a soccer mom, a triathlete, or a retiree, the rules are always the same — master the basics (breathing and stability) first and the movement will improve.
If you want to learn more, make an appointment with us for an assessment or send us a note with any questions!