Hips...

[Melody]

What is it with the hips? Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? It's a strange and sudden pain I get every once in a while. It almost feels like my hip has popped out of joint.

 

I usually get this sort of pain when were on the wall and we practice holding a kick up against the wall. I geuss you could say my hips aren't very loose moving. But does anyone have advice in stretches to loosen the rotator joints in my hips before class? Becasue I hate it when I'm surprised with that pain.

 

~ Melody

[longarm25]

COULD BE A LOT OF THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO SS A DOCTOR IF IT IS PERSISTENT

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I've always had the same problem with a side stretch while against the wall with another person lifting the leg. It doesn't happen all of the time, and is "usually" resolved by lowering the leg..."wiggling" the hip a bit, and then raising it again. Why it does that, I really don't know.

 

Those a GREAT stretches (against the wall with a partner) by the way, and really work well.

[Melody]

Yeah we do alot of that, lifting the leg to the side, front and behind. They really are great

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Another good stretch with a partner is to sit on the floor and have someone push "firmly" between your shoulder blades as you try to go down. With legs together and straight out in front of you, have partner stand back from you and just lean on you. Have them lean as much weight on you as possible and as much as you can comfortably take.

 

Being relaxed is important as you do this...exhaling as you go down. Also with your legs apart and going to the side (down each leg), have your partner place (going to the left) their right leg inside your right knee and push downward as you go down (opposite for other side). They need to push as hard as you can take it. If you can take more..tell them. To much, also tell them. Steady, even pressure, not "bouncing" you. It's a GREAT stretch!

 

Also, with feet pulled up to the groin (Indian style sitting) have your partner "duck walk" with their feet up against your butt, you grasp your hands around your feet and try to kiss your feet. If you can do that easily already, try to reach your head beyond your feet and kiss the floor. Again, and always...don't let the "pusher" bounce you. Steady, even pressure is important. Push down for about a 5 count...relax back up...then down again for maybe 5 reps.

 

I've found that both of these partner stretches (against the all and on the floor) work really great and are far more effective than doing them by yourself.

[Melody]

Those are very interesting approaches to stretching! I thank you, truly. I'm going to have to try some of those. But I really don't have any problem with flexibility just those darned hips! But I will certainly try what you suggested, anything to make the pain stop. I mean I try to block it out, but I know when its there.

 

I May have to talk with my sensei and see if he can help me out w/ it as well. I still appreciate any more suggestions though.

[Melody]

PS- we always do side stretches at the begining of each class called step behind side streches, where you are in side stance, and you step behind the front leg with the rear leg, and then swing the front leg out beside you w/o bending the knee, and those have seemed to help a little bit, but I'm afraid of eventually damaging my hip if I can't make it quit doing that.

[kchenault]

Your pubic bone may be out of alignment or your hip joint. I would suggest seeing a chiropractor for it. I had this problem and it can get very painful if left untreated. It can throw your whole body out of alignment. Be warned, the doctor may make you take it very easy when you get it re-aligned, and it may take several visits. It does work though.

 

Also, do the leg strengthening exercises they give you. If you don't, it WILL happen again. Do Hindu squats to strengthen your hips and legs. They work!

[kchenault]

I did not take my own advice, aggrevated this old injury and now I have chronic pain when I train, sometimes just from sitting too long. Please get help for this, or you may regret it.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

... anything to make the pain stop. I mean I try to block it out, but I know when its there.

 

Keep in mind that pain is telling your mind that something's wrong. It's a warning system for your body. To go against it and continue could cause serious, possibly permanent damage. Listen to your body.

 

We do 4 types of stretches.

 

1. Standing and swinging legs to front, back and sides. A "partner" is often used that has their hand out, palm down, and giving the "stretcher" a target and goal to reach for to slap their hand. They raise the hand a few inches after each swing to get the person to go just a bit nmore each time. 10 count with each leg.

 

2. Sitting like I described earlier, but without a partner.

 

3. Same as above, but with a partner pushing you.

 

4. Wall stretches with partner lifting your leg.

 

#1 & 2 we do at the beginning of class...#3 & 4 we do at the end of class with the muscles really warm and flexible.