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Restricted hip mobility is shown to have a strong correlation with various pathologies of the hip, lumbar spine and lower extremity. Restricted mobility can consequently have deleterious effects on, not only at the involved joint, but throughout the entire kinetic chain.Lower extremity range‐of‐motion (ROM) deficits are often noticed in clients with various hip joint pathologies. Limitations in flexion and internal/external rotation ROM are characteristic of hip pathology. Such limitations are prevalent with individuals displaying osteoarthritis, sport related groin pain and labral tears. As a result, it is common for those to exhibit reduced ROM in flexion, internal/external rotation and adduction. Decreased ROM of hip abduction has been suggested to predict the occurrence of future lower extremity injuries therefore, it is crucial to identify and eliminate the effects as soon as possible.

Spending extended periods of time in hip flexion i.e. sitting down, your hip flexors will shorten and become tighter causing the head of each femur to move towards the back of the socket. This can lead to impingements in movements that require deep hip flexion such as the squat. By exposing an individual to a broad range of movements and making them express body control through full, normal ranges, it's possible to determine where they may be restricted structurally and any efficiencies in motor control and mobility.

There are various ways of increasing capsular movement and ROM within the hip complex. Inferior posterior and lateral glides can be used to increase external rotation and extension ROM. Banded flossing allows one to bring the joint into neutral position and create the movement within the joint. The band acts as a distraction allowing for gradual manipulation of the femur. The goal of this technique is to improve capsule and connective tissue mobility, as well as improve muscle re‐education. Improved joint movement may significantly alleviate the athlete or client’s symptoms and help improve squat patterning.

 

References
Agricola R, Heijboer MP, Bierma‐Zeinstra SM, Verhaar JA, Weinans H, Waarsing JH. Cam impingement causes osteoarthritis of the hip: a nationwide prospective cohort study (CHECK). Ann Rheum Dis. 2012
Burnett RS, Della Rocca GJ, Prather H, Curry M, Maloney WJ, Clohisy JC. Clinical presentation of patients with tears of the acetabular labrum. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(7):1448–1457
Dallinga JM, Benjaminse A, Lemmink KA. Which screening tools can predict injury to the lower extremities in team sports?: a systematic review. Sports Med. 2012;42(9):791–815
Reiman MP, Weisbach PC, Glynn PE. The hips influence on low back pain: a distal link to a proximal problem. J Sport Rehabil. 2009;18(1):24–32
Song Y, Ito H, Kourtis L, Safran MR, Carter DR, Giori NJ. Articular cartilage friction increases in hip joints after the removal of acetabular labrum. J Biomech. 2012;45(3):524–530

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