Question - Hip Flexor Pain

by Jamie
(MI)

I have had psoas problems for a couple of years now. I just finished playing college soccer and it seems that the pain is even more frequent.

I stretch every day whether I am working out/playing soccer or not. Stretching alleviates it, but only temporary.

My two questions for you are:

1. Do you have any other suggestions for alleviating or eliminating this pain?

2. I could be way off with this, but I feel like the elliptical machine at the gym is not good for my hip flexors...I watch others, and myself, and it seems that our hips do not get to fully flex or extend while working out.

It reminds me of when I see people riding their bikes with the seat too low and they aren't fully extending at their knees when pedaling.

I made that mistake once on a long bike trip and I hurt for a few days. Could the elliptical, over time, be shortening our hip flexor muscles?

Could that machine aggravate my existing problem?

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Question - Hip Flexor Pain

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Feb 25, 2008
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Stretch your back as well
by: Bart - SII

Great questions Jamie!

You are right about the elliptical machine - I too believe that if used frequently they can lead to shortened hip flexors. However, in your case, I think that if you are stretching daily it probably isn't making that much of a contribution to your problem.

I would also work on improving your lower back flexibility and motion. If you are restricted there, then it places much more stress on your hip flexors during activities. The active hamstring stretch can help to improve this as well as improving your hamstring flexibility.

Lower abdominal exercises are also important to improve stability and reduce some of the work load on the hip flexors.

Hope this helps - comment back if you have other questions.