Run, walk, jump or squat? Your hips are doing most of the work. At least they should be. Yet, many people lose the ability to perform these basic movements as they are biomechanically designed due to modern living, which is why Hip and Glute Activation Exercises.

Locomotive Engine

Hip Anatomy - Hip Activation

The hips are the body’s center of gravity and the foundation for the spine and upper body. Therefore, where the hips go, the rest of the body will follow.

In other words, the longer that a person will sit, the more that their hip muscles will not be able to work when needed. The neuromuscular connection to these muscles will become ‘inhibited’ or turned off (for a lack of better words). These inhibited neuromuscular connections will make it harder for the hips muscles, including the Gluteus Complex, to be active and maintain their strength or endurance.

Activation Exercises are designed to strength the neuromuscular connections to specific muscle groups in order to restore biomechanics and optimize movement strategies. When the body can use proper biomechanics, it will move more efficiency and be able to maximize output with minimal effort, which provides an athlete will more opportunities for success.

Since the hip is a multi-directional joint, there are many different muscle groups to activate and strengthen. The following Hip Activation Exercises will target the Psoas, Gluteus Complex (Gluteus Maximus, Medius and Minimus) as well as the Piriformis, Hip Flexors, Adductors and Abductors.