Major hip inflexibility, cant diagnose please help!

Hello guys,
Ok heres my problem. If it sit in a chair and put my feet and knees together, i cannot bend forward much past vertical. When i do i feel and intense pain in the hip region. I have asked my friends to do the same thing and they can all get their chests all the way down to their thighs.

Also consider this. If i keep my knees together while seperating my feet, i can hardly even sit upright. When i lean back the pain and tightness subsides.

I thought it might be a tight TFL or Piriformis but i just dont know. I have been trying to stretch it by sitting and putting my knees together and gently leaning forwards, but it doesnt seem to be increasing flexibility in whichever muscle is tight. So im thinking maybe its more than just a tight muscle.

Please could anyone help me with this problem. Its affecting simple movements in everyday living.

Thanks so much

Jon Easdown, CFT

hi.

you may indeed have some muscle tightness and restriction but I'd start by looking at the hip in detail.

the position you describe is one of hip adduction, medial rotation and flexion. as you detail, these appear to be quite limited. this is a position that is used relatively often to stress the hip joint and a positive result (pain/limited movement) may indicate some sort of hip pathology. culd be as simple as early degenerative changes and capsular tightening. any decent physio could assess the hip in detail and see if its part of the cause of your problem. they'd more than likely assess your lumbar spine too and probably perform a thorough biomechanical exam.

what age are you? do you have a history of lots of weightbearing activity, eg playing soccer over a prolonged period? any other details about the problem?

I am 28 years old and do have a history of weight bearing. I have participated in heavy resistance training for about the past 10 years. This has involved heavy squats and deadlifts in the gym.

I think my best bet is a thorough exam from a qualified physio therapist.

Thanks again