Do you feel stiff or sore in your hips? Does pain or lack of mobility in your hips make you feel older than you really are?
Hip pain is commonplace these days, and it seems that if you're over 40 years old it's diagnosed as “wear and tear” that you need to live with.
But you don't. Even if there are some arthritic changes in the hip, there are several simple things you can do to help alleviate the symptoms of hip pain.
Stop sitting with your legs crossed
Yeah, it's comfy. But when we sit with our legs crossed, we put extra strain on the tendons on the side of the hip and pinch the front of the hip joint. Every time you catch yourself in this position—change. You may be surprised how much difference it makes.
Stop hinging on one hip or swaying through your back
There is a lot of talk these days about spending more time standing, less time sitting. And this is good advice: if you're standing well.
If you stand with most of your weight through one leg or a swayback, you will increase the load through the hip. Stand with a tall but relaxed posture with even weight through both feet. You'll need to consciously stand with even weight distribution until it becomes a habit!
Avoid sitting in low seats for long periods
We can’t always avoid sitting, but we can be mindful of the seats we are sitting in. The lower the chair, the more likely you are to irritate your hip.
Be particularly mindful of low, soft couches. They may feel comfy to begin with, but you’ll often find you get up hobbling! When out socialising, high bar stools are a great option.
Keep moving
Most importantly: don’t avoid moving those hips! While running a half-marathon may not be on the cards, finding a regular mobility routine will make a massive difference to how your hip functions.
