Hip Exercises for Running

Hip Exercises for Running
When thinking about strength training, many people focus on the big muscle groups – legs, arms, shoulders. etc. But one area that should be part of your training plan as a runner is hip strength. Hip weakness leads to a number of common running injuries, including: IT band pain, runner’s knee, and piriformis syndrome. There are 4 hip exercises that I include quite often in training plans with runners. You can cycle a few of these into your weekly strength training plan or complete the series after a few runs each week. You can use resistance bands or loop for these exercises. I also recommend standing on an unstable surface for the hip extension & abduction, once you have mastered the movements on a stable surface. Download this free bonus cheatsheet with an extended description of all 4 exercises - in an easy to follow format for your next workout. *Plus BONUS exercises that work the muscles around your hips to further enhance your strength training program! Hip Strength Exercises Clamshell – 2 x 15-20 on each side Hip Extension – 2 x 15-20 one each leg Click on each exercise name to see a video demonstration. While you want to include some hip strength exercises year-round, when you’re struggling with injury (or early symptoms of injury) I recommend including all four exercises 2-3 times per week. In many situations, you can make significant improvement after just a few weeks of focus on hip strength exercises! What is your favorite hip strength exercise? Original article and pictures take http://fitaspire.com/hip-exercises-running/#_a5y_p=5740599 site