Tight Hips? Try Something a Little Different

 

Do you have a hard time getting into a good squat position because your hips always feel tight?  This is something I have struggled a bit with since I started CrossFit, and is something I am still very conscious of.  There are a lot of different stretches I have done and mobility work, which has yielded some results, but I still feel it is a problem area.  I came across an article this week and the author proposed some ideas to increase hip mobility that were quite different than anything I have done previously.

The author’s main point was core stability has a huge impact on hip mobility.  If you have consistently tried a variety of stretches with marginal results, he postulates the structure of the hip is likely not the problem, but instead a lack of core stability.  His remedy is as follows:

  1. Start working some side planks with a leg raise into your daily warm-up to reset the hip and core, and to increase lateral stability.  Side Plank
  2. Also, add in some front planks to help stretch your hip flexors and increase overall core stability.  Front Plank

I have been working these into my warm-up this week and have really been happy with the results.  If you have any issues squatting or feel you have tight hips, give this a try and let me know what you think.  If you would like to read the entire article the link is below.

References:

Somerset, Dean. “Planks Are the Magic Bullet for Hip Mobility.” N.p., 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.  http://deansomerset.com/planks-are-the-magic-bullet-for-hip-mobility/

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