If you suffer from back pain of any sort, you need to make sure that you do not have a hidden problem underlying your pain. You never know where your problem is actually coming from, and it is much easier to treat an injury when you have a cause. A tight hip flexor can be a very common cause of back pain, and one that you need to watch out for. The great news is, that it is very easy to fix.
What Are Your Hip Flexors?
Your hip flexors are muscles that run from your lower back, and onto the head of your femur, which is the long bone in your thigh. They work to flex the hip as the name suggests. It is because of the attachment to the lower back that they can often cause pain and discomfort.
How Do They get So Tight?
The nature of our lives now is sitting down. When you are sitting down for a long time you tend to put your muscles in shortened positions, especially your hip flexors. If you leave them in this position for long enough, then you will find that they become tight and want to be in this position naturally over time.
How Do My Hip Flexors Affect My Back?
Your hip flexors attach to your lower back, so when they become tight, they will pull your lower back forward. This will mean that you are in an anterior tilt and can place a lot of pressure on the joints of your lower back. If just one side is tight, then you may be moved either side, and you can have problems from being out of balance.
What Can I Do To Loosen Them?
You should stretch regularly, and hold the stretches for a long time as it is usually the fascia involved. It is also a great help to regularly do bottom exercises and myofascial release around the area.
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