Strong hips are important at any age, particularly as we grow older and possibly become less inclined to move around and stay flexible. A sedentary lifestyle at any age however, can cause the hip muscles (hip flexors) to become weak, the hips to become less flexible, and can lead to all kinds of secondary problems.
According to an article on http://www.marksdailyapple.com (“The Importance of Mobility: The Hips”), one reason we experience problems with things like our back and knees is that all the different parts of our body are meant to work together. When one isn’t working as well as it was designed to work, other parts have to pick up the slack. Weak hips can cause the knees or back to work harder than they were meant to when lifting, which can lead to knee and lower back problems.
Another article (“Why Your Hip Flexor Health is Vital”) on http://www.fitday.com, suggests that weak hips can contribute not only to knee and back pain, but also hip pain, poor posture, poor balance, and an inability to walk or stand for extended periods of time.
About.com (“Hip Extension Basics”) adds that going up and down stairs can also become a problem.
All of the articles mention the effect that weak hip muscles may have on sports performance as well; if the hips aren’t working properly, any athletic endeavors can be affected. Performance may drop, less physical power is generated, and injuries may become more likely. So even folks who are active can benefit from strong hip muscles that allow the hips to work as designed.
Our hips are our largest joint, and are vital to everyday movement. Keeping the hip flexors strong so our hips will work the way they’re supposed to work is a good way to avoid loss of mobility and other secondary issues related to lack of strength and flexibility.
Written by: Tricia Doane, FizzNiche Staff Writer
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