Tight Hip Flexors

JTick
JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
Anyone have experience with this? Both of mine of hurting a lot. I have a foam roller, but I can't seem to hit them right with that or with stretches.

Replies

  • RM10003
    RM10003 Posts: 316 Member
    I do what's sometimes called "swans"--lying on my stomach, hands at around shoulder level, push your upper body up while basically leaving your hips on the floor (they can come off a bit). Or get down on bended knee (you know, pretend you're proposing), and lean forward so that the back leg is at a slight angle--you should feel it in the front of hip on the back leg.
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    I keep pulling my hip flexor on teh right side. My physio told me not to stretch it and to strengthen my glute-med. Not stretching actually seems to help
  • kattaw
    kattaw Posts: 30 Member
    The pigeon yoga pose helped me solve this problem. Mine were so tight, it was affecting the way I walked, but I've had very little trouble since I started incorporating this into my post-workout stretches. Hope it helps!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVlX5HNKamw
  • ShaniWulffe
    ShaniWulffe Posts: 458 Member
    I stretch mine out before ballet class by sitting on the floor with one leg in front of me, bent and turned out. I then lean forward and rest my head on the floor in front of my leg. It feels fantastic.
  • RobynLB83
    RobynLB83 Posts: 626 Member
    Look up yoga "hip openers" on you tube. There are a ton that work well.
  • HelloDan
    HelloDan Posts: 712 Member
    I'm assuming you mean the psoas or the iliacus.

    Very common, they're hard to get with a foam roller, because of their position, and the hip bones, but try with a tennis ball or a lacrosse ball if you're feeling brave, and you should be able to get them pretty good.
  • Pinkranger626
    Pinkranger626 Posts: 460 Member
    If the problem is your iliopsoas it may be helpful to see a massage therapist. Foam rolling and stretching are awesome and you should continue doing both of those regularly, but I've found that getting a massage about every three weeks has really helped keep me in working order with all my running, weight training and activities. Sometimes the muscle attachements are very difficult to get to on your own (iliopsoas is one of those)

    To choose a massage therapist I would sort of interview them beforehand, and choosing a random spa may not get you what you're looking for. I would ask them about their background, where they went to school etc. and make sure they know how to work the iliopsoas. Another culprit, strangely enough could actually be your quadratus lumborum or piriformis muscles, the body is really good at compensating for imbalances to keep you in the proper upright position. So I would have them work those muscles as well. If you mention these muscles and they don't know what they are, find someone else! Rather than go to a spa I would reccommend asking around at chiropractor's offices.
  • 1wskygrl
    1wskygrl Posts: 17 Member
    Go to YouTube and search hip, glute and hamstring stretches. You'd be AMAZED at how much tightness you can get in the hip area from overly tight hamstrings!!
    Good Luck!