12-30-04, 01:17 PM | |
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Europe
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I found another thread on hip flexors:
http://69.93.245.62/forum/showthread.php?t=44859 Do you think that being flexible in hip flexor area may mean weaker hip flexors? I am very flexible there, I can sit with my feet crossed one foot on the thigh of the other and then bend forward to touch the floor with my forehead. Maybe it could be the reason for weaker hip flexors? Just wondering! |
12-30-04, 01:52 PM | ||
Exchange Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Quote:
I think standing and lifting your leg even with a bent knee engages the hip flexors. One exercise that particular engages my hip flexors are the crunches that involve sitting up, leaning back on your hands with your legs off the floor, knees bent, and pulling your legs towards your body, using lower abs and hip flexors. This type of crunch is in Kari's Curl, and is illustrated here: http://www.pro-weight-training.com/r..._crunches.html (I sit on the floor, not on a bench) ETA: Standing and lifting a straight leg straight up (so it basically swings in front of you) does engage the hip flexors and quads; I don't really feel it in my abs as much as when my knee is bent. |
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12-30-04, 02:18 PM | |
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Europe
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Great. Thanks so much for your truly informative responses!
It's very important to me because I do Irish dancing and we need to be able to hold up straight leg in front - for Irish jumps. I was always told that we need strong abs for it and I wondered for months what's wrong with me that I can't do them well (I can't *hold* my leg parallel to the floor even though I can kick it up to my head!) even though my abs are OK? Now I know - my hip flexors are not OK! I'll work with them using the exercises you posted and I will pay special attention to Pilates exercises that seem to engage them! Looks like no one in Irish dancing world is aware of the hip flexors' existence not to mention importance - I was always told abs abs abs and I trained abs abs abs. |
12-30-04, 02:21 PM | ||
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alberta
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Quote:
__________________
Sophie be as relaxed as you can be, as you do what you gotta do. ~erich schiffman |
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Tags |
hip flexor, quad strength, quads, weak quads |
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