As a sports chiropractor in New York City, I have the opportunity to work with many athletes that participate in various forms of martial arts. With the increasing popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA), I encounter more and more questions regarding ways to improve hip flexibility for faster and more powerful kicks.
If you find yourself stretching frequently, yet not becoming more flexible, the following information may interest you. Mobility issues or lack of flexibility at the hips, may be related to a lack of stability in that area and/or weakness in your core. Mobility issues tend to respond to stretching or myofascial work (massage, foam rolling, etc); however stability problems need to be trained with specific corrective exercises.
There are some that feel that strengthening your hips may cause them to be less flexible; not always the case. A healthy balance of stretching, foam rolling and strengthening may help you to achieve better flexibility. Here are three tips to help your reach your goals: