Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch
This is a great stretch, due to its effectiveness, but people with knee or hip problems might have trouble getting into the starting position. In that case, the standing hip flexor stretch would be a better choice.
This stretch is done on the floor and most people prefer to have something nearby that they can hold on to for extra balance/support. The basic starting position is similar to the bottom position of a split squat or lunge, where one leg is forward and the other is back.
You knee and foot of the back leg will be on the ground and your knee should be directly below or a little behind your hip. The front knee should be bent and your foot will be flat on the floor (or close to it), but your ankle should be significantly in front of your knee. If your ankle is below the knee, it will be too close once you start stretching. The hip flexor of the leg that is back is the one that will be stretched.
For some people, just being in this position may be enough of a stretch, but the stretch can be significantly enhanced with a small movement. To increase the intensity of the stretch, simply shift your hips forward. However, this is easier said than done, because there are a number of ways to cheat during this stretch.
The biggest cheat people use it to bend over when moving their hips forward. Your torso should stay as vertical as possible, to maximize the hip stretch. The position of the back foot is important as well. Ideally, the back foot will be directly behind the back knee. If the foot turns in, it allows the hip flexor to avoid most of the stretch.
With the front foot, the main thing is to make sure that after you move your hips forward, the knee should not be past the ankle (it can be directly above the ankle). Finally, this can put pressure on the back knee, so for added comfort, some people like to have a mat or pillow under the knee.
[wlsp_jvftbasecontentluvthisbanners]
