Why You Should Stop Stretching Your Hip Flexors

Let's talk about the big reason you should stop stretching hip flexors - and what you should do instead. This is crucial information for anyone who feels tight in their hip flexors despite being flexible. And the exercises I show can be useful for if you're hypermobile or if you're just a regular person who's getting burned out on the same old hip flexor stretches.

✴️ Remember to hit the LIKE button and subscribe if you haven't already! Every LIKE and NEW SUBSCRIBER adds 1 cent to the donation to the Wounded Warriors Project for 2024! 🎉

HELPFUL LINKS

SUPPORT THE MISSION AND YOURSELF

SOCIALS

#hipflexors #hypermobility #hippain #tighthips #hipmobility #yoga

Should everyone really be stretching their hip flexors? In this video, we'll talk about some key signs that you should stop stretching your hip flexors, and we'll dive into alternative hip flexor exercises. These exercises will help you strengthen your hip flexors so that they are long and strong. The advice in this video is especially helpful for people who are extremely flexible / hypermobile. It can also be helpful if you are inflexible and regular stretching doesn't seem to help you improve your hip flexor flexibility.

[Uprighthealth]

What have you learned on your journey to relieve hip flexor tightness?

[johnf]

Great video! As a veteran, thank you for making the donation to Wounded Warriors.👍

[jenniferbridgeman]

Thanks for your content! I recently signed up for your hips and foot programs. A quick thought: I do think you should preface this particular content with a warning for folks who have SI joint problems (such as myself, hah!) Many of these stretches, and hip flexor strengthening exercises in particular, are really stressful on SI joints that aren't stable, and folks who aren't educated about the relationship between hip flexors and SI joint instability and dysfunction could potentially hurt themselves. (Not your fault, just something I learned the hard way). I had a doctor tell me to do some of these stretches you showed when I told them about my SI instability and it caused further trauma to my ligaments. She misunderstood my hip flexors tightness and why they were tight.

A really effective way to lengthen hip flexors symmetrically is a core-focused bridge hold, or to maintain a single-leg bridge hold with one leg straight (and can then gradually lower the leg gently). Alternatively, I have found great success in the classic hip flexor knee stretch you showed in the beginning but without pushing forward and simply pushing my knee into the ground- also actively stretches the hip flexors without torquing the SI joints.

[SandraHeerma]

Being hyper-flexible has major disadvantages. You are so right.

[MibaCallabus]

Very helpful vid. I'm a former dancer-now chair sitter who's been working on leg and hip flexibility, but I also recently learned I'm hypermobile. I've been stretching my hip flexors alot and rather aggressively but without much of a change. Meanwhile doing your recommended hamstring stretches are working great for me! Thinking now maybe I should ease off the constant hip flexor stretches and focus on excercises instead.

[KeyserTheRedBeard]

Impressive video, Upright Health. Excited to see your next upload from you. I crushed the thumbs up button on your content. Keep up the fantastic work! Your insights on the balance between stretching and strengthening hip flexors are enlightening. How do you recommend athletes incorporate these principles into their regular training routines to avoid injury?

[christinekeating]

What a great video and informative. This happened to me. Now I'm working on strength.

[amberleesunshine]

Thank you. I’m one of those flexible people constantly stretching their hip flexors 😂

[khakim]

@9:05 this really stuck out to me, do you have a video that outlines how to load your stretches specifically for a stiff upper back?

[ScottDiFrancesco]

Hi Upright Support, where did you order that exercise box you are using, it looks very helpful . thank you !

[jackbowman]

Hi Matt- I'm a new subscriber having recently found your site. Having developed hip pain in last month I'm wondering about the leg press machine at my local gym. I work our 2-3 times a week and boosted the weight on the leg press and wondering if this is part of my hip pain problem ?? Love your website 😊

[Anna-yllp]

Ooh I was thinking about improving my hip flexor flexibility. I got results by stretching but to a certain extent and it feels almost as if there isn't "enough" of them to stretch. I do train the more flexed position but I never thought about training the lenghtened position. I already have a feeling some of those angles will hurt lol

[Albatrosspro]

I’ve been in a constant hip flexor stretch since you made your first video on the topic in 2015. Now you deliver this devastating news.

[TheSpritz]

UPRIGHT- Long time subscriber here I have a question- What would YOU do for pain only on your right lower back AND when you bend down you hear snap crackle popping sounds??

[niecy]

Right on time. My pain is in abduction in a little triangle area around my groin. Is that still considered hip flexor?

[VickiMartin-vc]

Matt, darn, wish I could contact you (the trainers you link to on your site haven't answered). I have hip pain 7mo duration, loooong story which (as someone with knowledge) I may write up for a hip preservation surgery journal (they have an issue on the unhappy/dissatisfied hip preservation surgery patient this year, I will mention/include your content) ... had a nanoscope procedure (GA but no changes made to hip, just taking a look inside .. not as much hip distraction required as for arthroscopy as such a tiny camera) and injection of local/steroids in the last week, from a surgeon who has given up doing replacements and brushed off labral tear concerns saying at my age (58) I had a 50% chance of a labral tear with or without pain (hurrah!). Inflammation in Teres ligament which I've not seen you mention, typically causes pain on external rotation with the hip neutral/extended which is 'me'. Hip was also easy to distract which suggests joint laxity/hypermobility. Some cartilage wear. Your exercises got me pain free walking/doing care tasks for horses before the procedure, and since the injection I can sit on a saddle (not placed on a horse) nearly pain free (more tightness than pain, in adductor but more than just that) but not sure how to work on adduction/external rotation and keeping a long leg on that side without aggravating the inflammation. Suggestions for balance/weight shifts would be v useful too! Might try adapting some of your resistance band exercises but tips welcome. Aware that only stretches (as on 'dressageridertraining' site) not enough especially with the joint laxity present. Thanks!

[sallysamir]

I have scoliosis s shape of 30 degrees, pvns in one knee that swell with every activity and now i have severe hip arthritis and all of that because i have done hip dysplasia surgery when i was 3 years old😢, i am now 39, & i really do not want to do more surgeries, you think your hip program can help me ?

[GoingGreenMom]

Message is it okay to do the lifting type exercises from a bed? It seems cushier than your cube, but I don't own a couch. Anything I should watch for to know if that does become a problem?

[gothops]

Hey bro, how is your meniscus feeling now?

[potapotapotapotapotapota]

Be STRONG! Bear the weight of life's burdens! Shirking responsiblity leads to atrophy and death!