Low Back Pain: Hip Flexors Tightness – Contributing Factor
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Dr Ozello’s Sports Medicine Report: Low Back Pain: Contributing Factor: Hip Flexors Muscle Tightness (AKA Hypertonicity)
***Disclaimer: Viewing this video does not take the place of seeing a medical professional or working with a fitness professional. Please visit a medical professional for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. Please work with a fitness professional to learn proper exercise technique and to develop a proper training program. Never perform an exercise that elicits or intensifies symptoms. If an exercise elicits or intensifies symptoms, stop immediately and use a viable substitute.
Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the common health problems worldwide. It affects approximately 80% of people at some stage in their lifetimes.
LBP is a major cause of disability.
The primary hip flexor muscle is the iliopsoas muscle. It is a combination of the psoas major and iliacus muscles. The powerful psoas major muscle originates on the side of several vertebrae in the lower back and runs inferior to the femur. The iliacus muscle originates on the front of the pelvis. These two strong muscles combine and then attach to the lesser trochanter of the femur (Located on the proximal medial aspect of the femur.)
The hip flexor muscles contract to raise the anterior thigh toward the chest. This motion is called hip flexion.
Psoas Major:
Origin: Transverse processes of T12-L5, anteromedial aspect of all the lumbar discs and adjoining vertebral bodies except the L5/S1 disc.
Insertion: Lesser Trochanter of the Femur. Shares a common insertion with the Iliacus.
Innervation: Lumbar Plexus via anterior branches of L1-L3.
Actions: Hip flexion.
Iliopsoas: The psoas major unites with the iliacus at the level of the inguinal ligament.
Crosses the hip joint and inserts on the lesser trochanter of the femur.
Proper static stretching will reduce muscle tension, increase flexibility and improve joint motion. The best static stretches for the hip flexors are the standing quadriceps stretch and the kneeling hip flexor stretch.
Standing Quadriceps Stretch: Stand up straight and support yourself by holding a stable structure. Reach backward with your left hand and grab your left ankle. Pull your left heel toward your buttocks, then slowly pull your thigh backwards. Find a comfortable position where you feel a light stretch in your hip flexor and hold it. Then perform the same stretch for the opposite leg. Next, use your right arm to stretch the left leg. Using your opposite hand helps to stretch the hip flexor muscles at a slightly different angle.
Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch: Kneel down on one knee. If needed you can place one hand on a sturdy chair or exercise bench. The front hip and knee should be flexed to ninety degrees with the foot flat on the floor. Hold your spine straight and keep your neck in line with your spine. Exhale and slowly slide your upper body forward until you feel a light stretch in the hip flexor of the back leg. Reach upward with the arm of the side being stretched. Slowly bend to the opposite side. This increases the hip flexor stretch. Hold a comfortable stretch.
Perform static stretches for the hip flexors to decrease muscle tension and improve flexibility. Help prevent and manage hip flexor and quadriceps strains with proper stretching technique.
When lying supine or lying on your side place the hip flexors in a position that reduces their pull on the bones which they connect. Place a pillow or specially made leg wedge under your knees when lying face up. A pillow or leg wedge under the knees will help bend the hips and knees. This position relaxes the hip flexors and reduces their pull on the spine, pelvis and hips.
When side-lying, bend your hips and knees and place a small pillow between your knees. The flexed hip & knee position decreases hip flexor muscle tension. Placing a small pillow or specially made leg separator between the knees reduces the pull on the lateral aspect of the thigh and hip.
Dr Donald A Ozello DC of Championship Chiropractic in Las Vegas, NV
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“Running: Maximize Performance & Minimize Injuries” https://www.amazon.com/Running-Performance-Chiropractors-Minimizing-Potential/dp/1493618741
