Athletico Health Resources

Our third restorative stretch for May is a gentle low back stretch. I call this one Supported Hugging Knees.

You will need your yoga bolster or three folded blankets.

If you have a history of low back injury, hip or sacral injury/pain, or if you have trouble getting up and down from the floor please do not perform this stretch. As with beginning any exercise program, it is recommended to consult with your physician, physical or occupational therapist to determine which exercises are best for you.

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For the second week of May we will learn the Supported Side Lying stretch.

As in last week’s restorative exercise, you will need to use a bolster or a set of stacked blankets.

If you have any trouble getting up and down from the floor or shoulder, back or rib injuries, please do not perform this stretch. As with beginning any exercise program, it is recommended to consult with your physician, physical or occupational therapist to determine which exercises are best for you.

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May is here! Summer is just around the corner and some of us may be hitting the gym pretty hard to get ready for the warm days ahead. So for this month’s theme we will be taking it down a notch with some restorative stretches. These passive stretches are like a reset for the body. We allow gravity to do most of the work while we relax.

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The last of April’s internal hip rotation stretches is one from the yoga world called 1/2 Lord of the Fishes. Fun name!

It is also a bonus stretch because it adds an upper body twist.

If you have or are experiencing any of these please refrain from doing the stretch: sacral problems, hip or knee pain, especially with rotating inward, or low back pain when twisting. In addition, if you have trouble getting up or down from the floor this stretch may not be for you. As always, prior to beginning any exercise program, contact your physician, physical or occupational therapist to determine what is right for you.

You will not need any equipment for this stretch.

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For the 3^rd week of April we will review an internal hip rotation movement that will also help to build stability and balance.

This exercise is called Eagle Legs in the yoga world.

You will need a sturdy chair for this stretch. 

If you have a history of hip or knee injuries (pain, impingement), hip replacements, have difficulty balancing or have a history of falls, it is not recommended to perform this exercise. As with beginning any exercise program, it is recommended that you contact your physician, physical or occupational therapist to determine what is best for you.

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Continuing with the theme of internal rotation of the hip, for week two we will review a stretch while lying face down.

This is the Prone Double Internal Rotation stretch.

You will need some wall space for this week’s stretch. If you have trouble coming all the way to the floor you can perform this on the bed as well. As with last week’s exercise, you should not perform this stretch if you have or are currently experiencing the following: hip injuries, hip replacements, hip impingement, or pain when rotating the hip or knee inward. As with beginning any exercise program, it is recommended that you contact your physician, physical or occupational therapist to determine what is best for you.

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For the month of April we will be exploring internal rotation of the hip.

There are many muscles in the hip region that contribute to rotating the hip inward. Each week I will give you a stretch that will address these muscles in some way.

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Five Weeks in March Means a Bonus Self-Massage Technique

For this self-massage technique we will focus on releasing the tight fascia and muscles of the low back.

You will need a tennis ball for this technique. As with beginning any exercise program, it is recommended to contact your physician, physical or occupational therapist to find out what is best for you.

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