Strengthening Hip Flexors

sdb · 08-07-2007, 07:16 AM

In your opinion, do you think you should do exercises specifically for strengthening hip flexors?

Ex: Lying on your back and doing leg raises or holding your legs 6" above the floor.

digitor · 08-07-2007, 07:46 AM

Maybe for untrained men and women it is a good idea, but someone that is generally fit and does cardio and weights, I don't think it is necessary. If there is a weakness there, then obviously it's a good idea. Training them constantly is pointless I think though, because there's only so much progress you can get.

If flexing the hip quickly is part of a competitive sport that a person does, then training them is necessary to develop the power, like in sprinting, or in a martial art or gymnastics.

Mark26 · 08-07-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitor

Maybe for untrained men and women it is a good idea, but someone that is generally fit and does cardio and weights, I don't think it is necessary. If there is a weakness there, then obviously it's a good idea. Training them constantly is pointless I think though, because there's only so much progress you can get.

If flexing the hip quickly is part of a competitive sport that a person does, then training them is necessary to develop the power, like in sprinting, or in a martial art or gymnastics.

I agree 100%. Just adding a few ideas........

It also depends on which hip flexor. Of course you want a properly developed rectus femoris muscles, but obviously the iliopsaos group is not visible. I think you probably get all the work you need from stabalizing done during major lifts and core work. However like digitor also mentioned it might be advantageous to work them, the faster and better the leg is at lifting itself the faster it will be able to get back to the ground to push off the ground. As to how much you can imrprove this through secondary work like leg raises is questionable though.

Speaking in terms of posture and body mechanics, this is usually a tight facilitated muscle and its usual shortened and tight nature results in posture problems as well as hip and back pain.

wala · 08-07-2007, 09:14 AM

Smart answers guys...

IceDragon · 08-07-2007, 03:48 PM

I must admit, since I've been taking the kids roller-skating, the only place I really feel that pain of a muscle well-used in in my hip flexors.

It's never a muscle I've ever really been bothered about, but it just seems that it's the only place I really feel it for a few days afterwards.

Maybe you ought to take up roller-skating, sdb.

digitor · 08-07-2007, 04:22 PM

I used to do a lot of stop-start sprinting in football (soccer obviously) back in school, I was always the one chasing down the ball, and putting pressure on the opposite team, getting back to defend before anyone else, running the flank etc. and I used to get quite bad hip flexor pulls (namely the tensor fasciae latae) from the sudden explosive movements and changes of direction. It happened several times where I couldn't run for quite a few weeks. I probably could have benefited from training them directly!

Ah those were the days, I miss em!