Hip Flexor Tightness?

Why it may be time to change your normal stretching routine.

I have a few questions for you: 

1.     How often do you stretch your hip flexors?
2.     How often do you foam roll your hip flexors?
3.     How often do you use a lacrosse ball to “release” your hip flexors?

 and last but not least… 

4.     How often do you strengthen your hip flexors?

Did you have to think hard about that last one but answered yes to any of the top three?

 Have you been stretching and rolling for a while and seem to get nowhere? Do your hip flexors remain tight and uncomfortable?

 Well, let’s chat a bit.

 I can’t tell you how often we have individuals walk into our clinics complaining about their tight hip flexors. Commonly, they discuss their multitude of hip flexor stretches or rolling techniques. They often discuss how things feel better for a short period of time but are followed by a quick regression.

So, why not change the narrative a bit and start chatting about that important word that starts with an s…

STRENGTH.

Hip flexor tightness isn’t always due to a tight muscle or muscle length issue. Sometimes, your muscle tension is a result of weakness in that region.

How often do you use your hip flexor muscles through their full range of motion? If I had to guess, it’s not often. Unless you’re a climbing or aerial athlete, it’s unlikely that you utilize the totality of your hip flexors’ strength & range.

It’s common that humans lack hip flexor strength, especially at end-ranges. We simply don’t do the movements that require us to do so. However, a lack of strength through a range of motion can contribute to many ailments over time. For the hip flexors, this can include a multitude of musculoskeletal complaints including hip tightness, pinching, and lower back pain.

So, the next time you go to stretch your help flexors because they’re feeling tight, implement some strengthening activities! The stronger you get; it is likely the tension will fade. Just remember, strength takes time to build!

P.S. This video is a great resource to learn how to do so, so go check it out! Oh, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to shoot us a message!