Tight Hip Flexors? Try Activating Instead Of Stretching « The Massage Therapist Development Centre

Tight Hip Flexors? Try Activating Instead Of Stretching

I’m sure we have all come across this at some point in our career.

You have a patient come in repeatedly with a positive Thomas test and you do what you can to get things moving a bit easier.

What if the issue isn’t always just tight hip flexors?

If you stretch, mobilize, or repeatedly treat the hip flexors over and over, and the mobility leaves just as fast as it improves, there is not a mobility problem.

It’s a motor control problem.

Check out this relatively quick assessment of a Physio with right knee pain with a loss of hip extension for 2+ years.

Posterior Chain/Hamstring Activation for Hip Extension Mobility

If you aren’t gaining the kind of progress you have hoped for with your patients in this regard, give this a try and give it to patients for their homecare.

Stop stretching and activate!

Erson Religioso

Dr. Erson Religioso III, DPT, MS, MTC, CertMDT, CFC, CSCS, FMS, FMT, FAAOMPT, graduated from D’Youville College in 1998 with a dual Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy. His interests in Orthopaedics and Manual Therapy lead him to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine. Studying under Stanley Paris, Ph.D, PT, internationally known for his manual skills and knowledge of the spine as well as his distinguished faculty, Dr. Religioso earned his DPT and Manual Therapy Certification in 2000. He later became credentialed in Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment of the Spine in 2000. Erson also operates several websites dedicated to Manual Therapy, www.themanualtherapist.com, www.modernmanualtherapy.com as well as www.edgemobilitysystem.com