The hip flexors are a group of muscles that connect to the thigh bone, or femur. When the femur "flexes," the angle of the hip joint decreases. This movement works to pull the hip forward and the knee upward. An injury to the hip flexors caused by a forceful contraction or muscle rupture will greatly impair your normal gait and influence your capacity to carry out daily activities. Depending upon the extent of the injury, it will usually require extensive rehabilitation.
Types of Injuries
A tear or stretch in the muscle fiber, causing inflammation and pain, is defined as a strain. The extent will dictate the prognosis and length of the rehabilitation. For example, a grade 1 strain, which involves minor tearing, may require nothing more than ice and slight rehabilitation; a break from participation in sports or physical activity only occurs when the pain cannot be tolerated. A grade 2 strain, which involves partial tearing, requires a duration of rest varying from a few days to a few weeks. A grade 3 strain, associated with a complete tear, may require rest lasting a few months; surgery and extensive physical therapy are often needed. But everybody will recover at a slightly different rate.
Rehabilitation
Physical therapy is used to improve strength and flexibility in the hip flexors before you return to your normal activities. Timing is key. If you return too soon, then you may worsen your injury and do permanent damage. Apart from physical therapy, treatments can also include rest, icing and anti-inflammatory medications.
Exercises
Several exercises may be suggested as part of a normal rehabilitation. These include non-weight-bearing and low-impact exercises such as swimming and stretches such as a hip flexor stretch, quadriceps stretch, heel slide, straight leg raise and resisted hip flexion, some of which can only be done once the pain is gone. Consult a doctor or physical therapist before embarking on a specific therapy plan. Each exercise will be explained upon recommendation from a professional.
Completion
Rehabilitation is completed when a number of conditions are met. Once you have achieved a full range of motion and return to strength in the injured leg, you should be able to jog, sprint, jump and accomplish several cuts without any signs of limping or pain. These should be done under the supervision of a professional. Your doctor will make the final call.
