Dooley Noted: 4/5/2015
It’s only fitting on the day of resurrection that I return even more deeply to my beliefs.
I believe strength is missing when most people have tightness.
And I have some right hip tightness.
It happened after pushing past my allowable stability while squatting at a certification.
For a month, I have experienced discomfort in squatting.
So, I did what most people do when something is tight.
I stretched it. That gave me relief for about 10 seconds.
Several minutes later, My hip responded with even more tightness.
I was reminded that you can’t bring a mobility correction to a stability problem.
And long before that cert, I knew my right hip was not as stable nor as strong as my left.
In the gym, I train symmetrically. But that won’t always balance out an assymetry. If you start out uneven, training evenly won’t clean it up.
Match that with the fact that I habitually crossed my right leg over the left, making it more mobile.
I also had the habit of cocking my hip to the left, making my left hip balance my weight as my right hip took another stability hiatus.
What I did all day long undid me.
So, I started flipping the script.
I started doing my office work in half kneeling, creating stability for my right hip.
It worked.
Today, I woke up with minor right hip tightness. I didn’t stretch it.
Instead, I started regressing my right pistol squat. I was greasing a movement groove that created right hip stability in a pain-free zone.
My hip felt worlds better when I focused on a strong, stable abdomen and quality foot mechanics.
My hip was given the permission to relax.
A hip stretch would never give me stability where I needed it. That’s why the stretch will never give lasting relief.
As I relearn these lessons, I catch myself cocking my hip and fixing it. I uncross my legs and encourage my body to seek stability.
I avoid going to the stretch for a moment of relief. It will make me pay later, and I want lasting results.
I hope you avoid the reflex to stretch out things that feel tight.
And if you do stretch, please consider what might be needed at adjacent joints.
I hope you look at nearby patterns that may need more of your attention.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley