Improving Your Hip Mobility and Squat Patterns

Due to the sedentary nature that we live these days, it is more common than not that I see clients with tightness anteriorly through their hips.  In the image below you will see one of Principle Four Osteopathy clients performing a kneeling hip flexor stretch and using the bands with trunk side bending to facilitate a better stretch.  Often tightness in the hips can impact on exercises performed in the gym i.e. squatting, stepping up, lunges etc.  I am a big believer in Mike Boyles movement prep approach of stretch, mobiliser, activate and integrate.  You will see two different clients in the images below, but this principle of improving mobility and then integrating this gained mobility into a loaded exercise (be it bodyweight or with external load) is important to reinforce those positive gains that have been achieved.

This blog post was written by osteopath Heath Williams of Principle Four Osteopathy. Principle Four Osteopathy is one of Melbourne City CBD leading Osteopathy clinics. At the clinic we treat a wide range of clients, ranging from the office worker, exercise enthusiast to athlete. We have 3 experienced osteopaths working across both of the clinics. The Melbourne City CBD clinic is located at 29 Somerset Place (basement), close to the corner of Elizabeth St and Little Bourke in the Melbourne City CBD. Our premises adjoin the Jon Weller Personal Training Studio, a fully-equipped training space which allows clients to combine their osteopathy treatment with exercise tutorials or specific training programs and rehabilitation. The Docklands clinic is located at 717 Bourke St (Ground Floor), beneath the Channel 9 building near the walkway from Southern Cross Train Station to Etihad Stadium. Our premises adjoin Pilates on Bourke, a fully-equipped pilates and yoga training space which allows clients to combine their osteopathy treatment with exercise tutorials, pilates or specific training programs and rehabilitation. To speak to an Osteopath or book an appointment at Principle Four Osteopathy, please book online or call 03 9670 9290.