If this sounds all too familiar to you, then you’re probably also familiar with the hip pain that can be associated with extended amounts of sitting. 

Why is this the case? When your body is in a seated position, your hips are held in a flexed position. Remaining in this flexed position for prolonged amounts of time can lead to hip pain and discomfort. Fortunately, there are many hip stretches for tight hips that can help alleviate the pain and allow you to lead a more comfortable life. 

What causes tight hips in the first place?

One of the primary causes of tight hips is a sedentary lifestyle. When your hip muscles relax and deactivate, they can become increasingly weaker over time. But sitting isn’t the only cause of tight hips.

• Standing up after a long period of sitting can add strain and tightness to the hips
• Different habits as far as posture are concerned can affect hip tightness – such as leaning on one hip while standing
• Strongly favoring one side of the body while sleeping can lead to tight hips
• Improperly performing lower body exercises like deadlifts or squats

Hip stretches are important no matter your activity level

Whether you spend a lot of time sitting or not, hip exercises and stretches are important in maintaining the health and flexibility of your hips. 

The hip flexors – the muscles near the top of your thighs – are key components in many lower body movements. Walking, bending, turning, and kicking are all reliant upon healthy hip flexors. 

If your hip flexor muscles are too tight, a sudden movement may cause pain or even tearing. Regular stretching of your hip flexors can help alleviate tension. There are many simple exercises you can do to stretch your hips. 

If you have mild to moderate hip pain, these hip stretching exercises and physical therapy can be a great help. If the pain or tightness is more severe, you should contact a physical therapist to help you strengthen your muscles [R].

Warm-up stretches for tight hips

You should never jump into a stretching or exercise routine without first doing a warm-up. A warm-up routine allows your body to slowly acclimate to the workout ahead – by increasing blood flow to the muscles and increasing your heart rate.

1) Lateral pendulum stretch

This is a great warm-up stretch that will boost the range of motion in the muscles on the outside of your hips and

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