Tips for the Hips: 7 Flexibility & Strengthening Exercises
Your hips are some of the most unique structures within your body. Not only do 17 muscles cause movement of the hip, but also the joint itself is very diverse in its movement capabilities. Unique groups of muscles that control these movements at the hip are able to move in all three planes of motion. These planes include frontal plane (or side-to-side), sagittal plane (or forward/backward), and transverse plane (twisting or rotational movements). Because of the diverse nature of the joint, maintaining strong muscles and flexibility are key in optimizing hip health as we age. The following will be a set of exercises that are good starting points to target hip strengthening and flexibility.
The Hip: The Forgotten Joint
Although it’s one of the biggest and most important joints in the human body, the hip joint is sometimes overlooked when evaluating, treating and diagnosing musculoskeletal conditions. With normal movement patterning, the hip is used heavily for bending, twisting, rotating and propelling forward. Mechanical breakdowns will occur if the hip is unable to function at peak efficiency, often at other segments like the knee or lumbar spine.
5 Tips to Prepare for Hip Arthroscopy Surgery
Prior to scheduling surgery, many patients focus on how big things in their life will be impacted, including how much time will need to be taken off work as well as arrangements for childcare and/or pet care. Although these are important considerations, patients should also take time to think about how smaller parts of their daily life will be impacted post-surgery.
