Hip Flexor

Hip flexors are a group of skeletal muscles that act to flex the femur onto the lumbo-pelvic complex. In other words, hip flexors are used to pull the knee upward.

The most important of the hip flexor muscles are the muscles collectively known as the Iliopsoas or inner hip muscles. These are:

• Psoas major,
• Psoas minor, and the
• Iliacus muscle

Without the iliopsoas muscles, flexion in sitting position is not possible across the horizontal plane.

Other muscles also help in hip flexion and include:

• Rectus femoris,
• Sartorius,
• Tensor fasciae latae,
• Pectineus,
• Adductor longus,
• Adductor brevis, and
• Gracilis

Functions of the Hip Flexors

Without hip flexors, it would not be possible to run. The running process requires that you lift the knees towards the abdomen and this is only possible with the aid of hip flexor muscles.

Hip flexor muscles are also active when the abdomen is moving towards the thighs. You will notice that when doing sit ups.

If you wish to have good hip flexor muscles, you may consider doing certain exercises such as sit-ups, leg raises, hanging leg raises and resisted hip flexion.

When exercising the hip flexors, it is important to note that over developed and tight hip flexors can contribute to lower back pain by causing the pelvis to tilt forward.

To counteract this, you must stretch the hip flexors and strengthen the abdominal muscles. This will reduce pelvic tilt and decrease lower back pain. Strengthening the lower back can also help improve the balance between the muscles of the hip region.

Bookmark this:

Bookmark this page