Hip Mobility

By popular request, this month is about hip mobility! Mobility can be restricted due to your anatomy, the joint capsule, or muscles. The easiest way to improve mobility on your own without the help of a medical provider is through stretching or releasing your muscles. Trigger point balls like the Orb can be helpful to release most runner's nemesis, the piriformis! Sit with the ball in the middle of your glute. Moving your leg around while doing this can make it more effective and tolerable. My other favorite position to stretch is what I call the "pretzel". From this position you can stretch many muscles when you lean forward to improve external rotation. When you lean back you can get your quad and even hip flexor. Play around with your angles till you feel the stretch your body needs! Want to learn more? Ask a Physical Therapist! Most people will benefit from an informative evaluation with a PT before they are hurt. You can learn about what restrictions and weaknesses you might have, and work on them before you are hurt.