Today’s focus is on hip loading. Why is hip loading important?
Basically when there are muscle imbalances, some muscles will be over active and some muscles will be under active. These imbalances will almost always show up as altered movement patterns. This altered movement pattern leads to increased stress on the tissues and potentially injury will occur.
You squat everyday, whether or not you realize it.
Squatting is seen daily, both directly and indirectly: getting up and down from chairs, sitting on the toilet, picking up new baby, get in and out of the car, breaking down the stroller, pick up stroller to put into car…you may also use the squat position in labor and delivery.
The implications of this hip-knee loading imbalance include back pains, ankle strains and sprains, neck aches, and generalized degradation of the entire musculo-skeletal system.
How do you know if you are squatting correctly?
Here is a simple way to assess yourself.
- Hip Loading versus Knee Loading (do you naturally drop back into your hips, or forward into your knees?)
- Are you breathing? Belly Pumping (breathing, expansion and contraction of the midsection, or otherwise use of the core during the movement, especially at the bottom transition).
If you are unsure of your technique you can set up a video conference session and assess your squat and guide you.
Nurturing Happy Healthy Babies
With Love,
Fit For Birth