Healthy Hips

Healthy hips are literally pivotal for success in a multitude of sports and athletic maneuvers. Assessing their status may be a worthwhile practice to screen for injury risk and performance detractors. Addressing modifiable factors influencing joint health, i.e., strength and range of motion, may present an opportunity to reduce risk of injury. Should there be a gross imbalance intra and/or interlimb, the athlete may avoid time away from play by incorporating specific prehabilitation exercises.

Given the different demands that may be imposed on each limb, a unilateral assessment at sport specific ranges should be administered. As an example, a clever study by Secomb, Kelly & Dascombe published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research suggested assessing the hip of hockey players in positions associated with skating performance and injury mechanisms (2022).

Whether it be your dominant kicking leg or what you believe to be symmetrical motions you endure with running, assessing and addressing the health of your hips may help you stay in and ahead of the game!