When starting a client on a new exercise program, it’s important to set the foundation for healthy movement patterns before adding complexity or load.  We spend time with clients showing them how to improve their alignment in key movement patterns so that every day activities, as well as physical exercise, becomes both safer and easier.

Key Movement Patterns

A key movement pattern is an action that our body performs routinely in our everyday life.  As we get older, some movements can sometimes become harder or even painful.  Exercises that help us with these movements allow us to continue performing ‘activities of daily living’ or ADLs such as showering, using the washroom, brushing teeth, brushing hair etc.  Other exercises can help us keep the ability to more easily get up and down from the floor, climb or descend stairs, and get in and out of chairs or vehicles.

What is a Hip Hinge?

            The hip hinge is a motion that uses our lower and upper body. It involves bending your hips, bending your knees while keeping your spine in a neutral position. It is used in movements such as bending over and sitting to standing. Hip hinging engages all the posterior chain muscles (back, glutes, hamstrings) as well as the abdominals. Sitting all day can lead to weakness is the abdominals and tightness in the lower back. Often people will lower back pain can work on movement patterns such as the hip hinge in order to improve postural control in bending forward.  The hip hinge is a primary movement that, when done regularly and correctly will improve other daily movements such as the squat.