"It's all in the hips."
You've heard that phrase before, probably in reference to dancing or *ahem* other activities. Today, I'm talking about hip flexors, collectively known as the iliopsoas or inner hip muscles: Psoas major and the Iliacus muscle. They are seated deep inside the lower torso.
Too much sitting, like we've been doing over the last year, causes those muscles to contract and shorten. When they contract, they pull the spine out of its normal, healthy curve. That, in turn, causes pelvic tilt, back pain, difficulty standing up straight, neck pain, and loss of movement.
Do a test to evaluate tightness. Lying on your back on a table or bench, pull one knee up toward your chest and hold it there. Let the other leg relax downward over the edge of the table. It helps here to have someone hold that leg for you so you can do it slowly.
If your hip flexors are fine you should be able to fully extend the thigh so it's parallel to the floor and bend the knee to 90 degrees without the thigh rising up. Any difficulty with these movements indicates tight hip flexor muscles.
Make a commitment to your health today.
Stay well adjusted,
Dr. Dan Kammer