Many of us experience tight or stiff hips. It can be caused by lots of sitting or overuse. Tight hips can put extra pressure on your low back or knees due to lack of mobility. If you run, cycle, or sit all day you might have tight hips!
But thankfully, our team of physiotherapists know exactly how to loosen up those hips and relieve any associated pains or tightness. Perform this favourite hip opener exercise for some sweet, sweet relief!
Weighted Deep Squat:
- Grab a kettlebell, a bottle of laundry detergent, vinegar, a shopping bag.. Anything with a bit of weight to it that you can hold in front of you.
- Stand with your feet wider than shoulder width apart and your toes pointed out. Hold the weight in front of you at chest level.
- Drop down into a squat low enough to get your elbows on the inside of your knees.
- Make sure to keep your back nice and straight and your chest up throughout the movement. The weight helps keep you upright so if you’re leaning forward hold the weight farther from your body.
- To really open up your hips you want to hang out at the bottom of the squat for as long as you can.
This exercise is great for training the range of motion you need to perform a ton of your daily activities. This motion is important for putting on your socks, climbing stairs, picking things up off the floor, going to the bathroom, getting out of a chair and so much more! Humans are meant to be able to squat down low so even if you can’t get there now, with some practice and a little help you can get there too.
If we don’t make our body practice flexibility and mobility we tend to lose those abilities. Use it or lose it as Dr. Rob says!
If you struggle with this mobility exercise come see one of our amazing physiotherapists who will help you move through the progressions and make sure you’re doing it properly! Learn more about what our physios can do by checking out our physiotherapy page HERE
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