Classes and Pricing
12/06/2024
When we think about longevity and maintaining our health as we age, our minds often gravitate towards diet, cardiovascular health, and mental wellness. While these factors are crucial, there's something else that plays a significant role in our long-term vitality: hip mobility.
The hips are our body’s powerhouse, central to nearly every movement we make. From walking and running to sitting and standing, the hips are integral to our mobility but in a society that has adapted to a culture of sitting our hips spend most of their time in a limited range of positions, leading to stiffness, reduced strength and mobility.
Our hips are ball-and-socket joints that have evolved to move in multiple directions and support a wide range of activities. When flexible and strong, they enable us to perform everyday activities with ease and reduce strain on other parts of the body, particularly the lower back and knees. Enhancing hip mobility can alleviate existing pain and prevent future injuries by ensuring that our movements are more efficient and less taxing on other joints.
For athletes, fitness fiends and weekend warriors, hip mobility is a game-changer. Whether you're a runner, a weightlifter, or a yoga practitioner, flexible hips can significantly enhance your performance through a greater range of motion, more effective power transfer, and better overall athletic ability. This not only helps in achieving personal fitness goals but also in sustaining an active lifestyle over the long term.
As we age, maintaining our independence and quality of life becomes increasingly important. Hip mobility is key to this. It helps in performing essential daily activities, from bending to picking something up from the floor or climbing stairs. By keeping our hips mobile, we can prolong our ability to live independently and reduce the risk of falls, which are a significant concern for older adults as they can have devastating effects on health and longevity. According to data published by NICE around 65,000 hip fractures occur each year, incurring around £1 billion in health care costs alone. Around 10% of patients die within one month of the fracture, and approximately 30% die within a year. Beyond the immediate mortality risk, hip fractures significantly impact long-term health and quality of life due to decreased mobility, and increased dependency.
Hip replacement surgery plays a huge role in helping prevent disability or mobility issues. This is particularly true for women who are more likely to receive this treatment, in the UK around 60% of all hip replacements are performed on women. But waiting lists for hip replacement surgery are long and recovery is a long and often difficult journey.
By maintaining good hip mobility, muscle mass and bone strength, we can help reduce the risk of falls, fractures and the need for invasive surgery thereby enhancing our chances of living longer, healthier lives.
Unlocking the power of your hip mobility today is an investment in a healthier, more active tomorrow.