Hip Health and Exercises to Increase Your Mobility

Taking care of our hips is often over looked. It's easy to say "screw the stretch!" at the end of a tough workout when you're fatigued and ready to shower.

As the years have gone by, I've noticed limitations in my hip mobility (stiff upon standing, tight when starting a run, even achy by the end of the day)

⭐️ Statistically women are more likely to develop hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis then men ⭐️

- Cue my immediate vow to work more on strengthening my hips and getting rid of my constant stiffness!

Taking the initiative to improve your hip mobility can fight off injury in the surrounding areas like your lower back, your knees, and your quads. 

Benefits of this kind of work include 
- decreased risk of injury 
- Increased performance with cardiovascular and strength training 
- Weight symmetry (equal distribution of weight on left and right sides)
- Flexibility 

There are 7 hip exercises I like to do in my regular fitness routine. Some are banded and some are not. I use @fitsimplify bands and find them comfortable and flexible.

Each day, I choose 4 of the following exercises and I create my own little circuit. I typically do the circuit two times through and it takes under 10 minutes!

For example:

20 banded side steps: Video

12 banded hip bridges with external rotation: Video

12 banded clams (perform each side): Video

12 seated banded in and outs: Video

10 over the fence Video

45 seconds of slow hip rocks left to right: Video

4-5 reps of 4 point toe touch with progressive lowered stance: Video

Try integrating some of these exercises into your daily routine to give your hips some love!