What is hip stability & why is it important?

Hip Stability is the ability to keep your hips still while you move other parts of your body.

Your hips are a beautiful bowl of muscles that work together to transmit force through your body while you walk. These muscles are also responsible for the movement of your trunk & to hold your guts in.

They house the main joints that attach your upper body to your lower body.

And the bones in your lower back attach directly into your pelvis (“hips”).

Super cool right?!

So, how you hold your hips while you walk, sit, stand & move through your everyday life is important.

For the stability of your lower back & for your entire body.

What causes INstability in your hips?

Many reasons.

Most common of those being:

• Poor posture habits that gradually wear on the body.
• Misalignment of joints while moving your body.
• Impact injuries - sports injury, car accident, etc.
• Childbirth
• Lack of awareness
  

For example, swaying your hips while you walk, will jerk your lower back side to side.

I’m all for a sexy catwalk strut, but…doing this all the time may cause weakness, chronic pain or injury to the joints.

How to tell if you’re hips are unstable?

When I begin working with a new client, checking hip stability is one of the first things I do.

Here are my 3 favorite ways to check if your hips are unstable:

1. Marching/Walking - Stand with your feet hip distance apart. Place your hands on your hips. Ground into your right leg & lift your left knee.

• Do your hips shift to the right? Or left?
• Does either side of your hips hike upward?
• Does your trunk lean to either side? Or lean forward or back?

2. Bridge March - Lie on your back with knees bent, feet hip distance apart & parallel. Arms down by your side. Press into your feet & lift your hips. Place your hands on your hips. Root into the left foot & lift your right heel or leg.

• Do your hips shift to the left? Or right?
• Does either side of your hips hike upward?
• Can you keep the hips from dropping?
  

3. Side-Lying - Lie on your right side. Vertically stack your hips & lift your right rib off the floor. Now, extend your left leg straight & point your toes. Lower & lift your straight left leg.

• Can you move your left leg without moving your hips?
  

If you’re more of a visual learner, check out this post I did with these 3 tests.

How to improve hip stability?

Pilates!

Or similar “stability-focused” exercises to train your smaller stabilization muscles.

When you learn how to engage with the stabilizing muscles in the core & hips, your larger “prime mover” muscles can do their job more effectively. And therefore, body feels safe & strong.

I had no idea my lower back pain was being caused by my lack of hip stability, until I started taking Pilates in 2014.

I’m not saying Pilates was my only cure. I’ve 100% seen chiropractors, doctors, physical therapists & trainers for my lower back pain.

But Pilates gave me the awareness & the tools to be able to identify when I am out of alignment & what to do about it.

I encourage you to try a simple Pilates leg routine.

Incorporate it into your weekly schedule.

Give yourself 4 weeks, 3-4 times per week. Then retest your hips.

Check out this quick follow-along Pilates leg routine.

And just in case you missed it - here’s that IG post I did about testing your hip stability

If you don’t see improvement or the pain doesn’t subside, please see a local chiropractor or physical therapist, as it may be a deeper issue.

Remember - You are never stuck.

If you are in pain or discomfort, there are things you can do about it.

It’s ok to start small. Just start somewhere.

If you’re interested in booking a private Stability session with me, schedule a 15-minute connection call free of charge.

Hi, I’m Jessi!

For the past 10 years, I’ve been helping people of all ages & fitness levels reframe their relationship with movement. As a Holistic Fitness Trainer, I not only train people’s bodies, I also help them shift their mindsets to see movement as a tool for mental well being & physical vitality.

As a college athlete, a virgo, an older sister & a recovering perfectionist, I value my ability to complete a to-do list & go-go-go. After several major injuries, crippling anxiety & back pain, I went on a search for tools to help me sustain my productivity while also minimizing the chance for another burn-out.

I learned that movement is not about performing or competing, it is an essential therapy to help the human body manage the stress of life.

My goal is to inspire people to befriend movement again & to learn to love their bodies, so they can live pain-free & motivated.

The list of my experience & training continues to grow. My coaching style focuses on strong foundations of body awareness & stabilization. I combine techniques from Yoga, Pilates, Strength Training, Massage Therapy & Mindfulness to craft well thought out & customized training plans to support all clients.