Tightness in the front of the hip is a common problem. It can predispose a person to low back or knee pain. It is often stretched in yoga with the warrior pose and in gyms when kneeling. However, it is very important to "isolate" the stretch to the front of the hip without stressing the back by creating a sway back posture. The front of the hip typically loses its mobility over time. The main muscle crossing from your low back and pelvis to your thigh is called the psoas or iliopsoas. When we sit for prolonged periods of time, this muscle is placed in a shortened position. As we age, the muscle loses its natural extensibility and becomes shorter or tighter. Since this is a major postural muscle, we tend to become slouched forward and compensate with a sway back as a result of this muscle's tightness.
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