Stretching daily can help prevent all sorts of injuries throughout the body. Zero stretching can result in tight muscles and poor bone density which will increase the risk of injuries. If you want to strengthen your body, hip stretches are great workouts to start with.
Hip stretches
The hip is an important part of the body because it serves as a foundation that supports vital organs, muscles, joints, and bones. Hip muscles are important for the common human actions we do like walking and jumping. One of the most important functions of the hip is supporting the core and the spine, both important group muscles in the body.
Hip stretches are good for injury prevention because they improve flexibility and they release tightness throughout the muscles and joints. With that, muscles and joints function better and they can take on more tension when doing different activities.
Hip stretch exercises
There are dozens of hip stretch exercises you can do to target different muscles and joints throughout your body. Here are some of our top recommendations.
Knee-to-chest stretch
Knee-to-chest engages the muscles in the lower back, hamstrings, and hips and improves strength in the core muscles.
Butterfly stretch
This is a great exercise for people who sit on chairs for long hours, mostly employees at an office. The butterfly stretch is kind of like an Indian sit but with the soles facing each other. This stretch is good for the lower back, hips, and inner thighs.
Walking lateral lunges
Lateral lunges in general improve strength, balance, and stability. They target the inner and outer thighs as well as the hamstring muscles. Walking lateral lunges adds tension to the hips and the cores.
High knees
High knees are good for so many things, not just for hip stretching. This routine is not just a stretching exercise, it is also considered a cardiovascular exercise. It targets the hip flexors, calves, glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps.
Hip stretches and yoga
Yoga is great for your hips. Yoga is all about improving one’s flexibility, strength, endurance, mental health, and overall well-being. There are a lot of yoga poses that are beneficial for the hips that would help prevent injuries and generally improve your hips. You can do the yogi squat, happy baby pose, frog pose, supine figure four, double pigeon, low lunge, camel pose, supported bridge, and more.
The importance of stretching
As mentioned above, stretching is very important in injury prevention. According to an article by Harvard Health Publishing, without stretching muscles shorten and there is more tightness. “When you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage” the article reads.
That is very true for the hips. The hips connect the lower and the upper body so it needs to be a strong foundation. When you strengthen your hips, you also strengthen other parts of the body including your core and lower back.
It is also important to remind yourself that as you grow old, your muscles, bones, and joints start to deteriorate. That is why without proper exercise and stretching, you are putting yourself at a lot of risks, not just injuries but health conditions.
