Any movement you do that involves bringing your legs in front of you such as walking or running will require the help of your hip flexors. Without your hip flexors you won't be able to even stand up on your own without support.

The hip flexors are made up of a group of different muscles that help create what's known as hip flexion. The most important muscle in this group is the iliopsoas, which is made up of 2 muscles called iliacus and the psoas. 

All these muscles work together collectively to help you run, ride a bike, and do any kind of physical activity.

Hip Flexor Tightness

Problems can occur when these hip flexor muscles don't get stretched out regularly or when they are in a shortened position for most of the day. 

When one or the other happens it causes hip flexor tightness. Hip flexor tightness is something that can affect anyone no matter how old or young you are. 

However, the people who often fall victim to this painful problem are those who are always in a seated position. Sitting down for too long causes your hip flexor muscles to shorten up, which leads to tightness.

The good news is there are various things you can do to get relief from tight hip flexors. Below you'll find a couple of the most effective exercises to lengthen hip flexors that have been shortened due to long periods of sitting, or a lack of stretching.

The Cobra

This hip flexor stretch works by working your hips and other areas like your lower back, pelvis, and groin area. 

When you do the cobra stretch properly it will lengthen your hip flexors so you can get fast relief from tightness.

To do the cobra stretch for tightness in the hip flexors you'll need to:

1. Begin by laying flat on your stomach as if you're about to do push-ups.
2. Now use both your hands to push the upper portion of your body upward off the ground. You'll want to make sure your lower body is still flat against the ground.
3. Next push your upper body as far as you can into the air while maintaining contact with your lower body and the ground. Once you feel you've stretched your upper body as far as you can hold this stretching pose for about 15 seconds before returning to your starting position.
4. The cobra stretch will quickly begin get rid of your hip flexors tightness by increasing the range of motion and flexibility. Continue doing this stretch to get long lasting relief from tight hip flexors.

The Bridge

The bridge is another great exercise for tight hip flexors. It helps increase the range of motion in the hip flexos, which in turn lengthens out all the muscles in this group.

To do the bridge you'll need to:

1. Start off on your back on the floor.
2. Place your feet flat on the floor with your back resting against the ground. You want your knees pointing upward while the bottom of your feet are resting flat against the ground.
3. Now push your spine and hips slightly off the ground until you can't push it anymore.
4. Hold this stretch for about 10 seconds and then return to the starting position.

Make sure you do about 15 reps of this simple stretching exercise for hip flexors.

Posted by: Josh2223 at 07:22 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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