Swiss Ball Hip Bridge – An Osteopaths Perspective

In the image below you will see one of Principle Four Osteopathy clients demonstrating a swiss ball hip bridge. The hip bridge exercise is one that focuses on moving ones hips from a relatively flexed to extended hip position, therefore requiring the posterior chain (gluteals, hamstrings) to engage.  The most commonly prescribed hip bridge exercise is the supine bilateral hip bridge (lying on the ground with feet side by side).  A typical progression will be to move to single leg.  What the floor doesnt allow is to enable the individual to work through a greater range of hip movement.  The swiss ball hip bridge version certainly does (plus has the added benefits of requiring the person to stabilise their torso due to the moving ball).  Given this is largely a bodyweight + light load exercise (unless you are going to load up with the hip thrust with a barbell and heavy loads), usually I will work on higher rep ranges, slower tempo and control.

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.