4/17/07- Hip Creasing- Kinesiology

Michelle Black

4/17/07

Journal #5

Hip Creasing

            “Fishing pole: Imagine the leg to be a fishing pole. The lower leg is the string and the foot a fish. The handle of the fishing rod is in the hip socket. Pull the fish (foot) out of the water by initiating the action from the handle. As you perform this action think of your back and especially the lumbar area spread on the floor.”

            “Knee string: Imagine a string attached to the knee. Pull the string horizontally toward the head to make the leg flex at the hip socket. When the leg returns, let the string lower the foot to the floor very slowly. While you perform these actions, imagine the psoas flowing down next to the spine like a river.”

            These two images helped me a great deal to not only learn how to access my iliopsoas, but to let my other hip flexors relax and release (aka the rectus femoris). The first time it clicked for me was when I was doing my pilates work. I tried again and again to think of releasing my rectus, but it never wanted to release- it only seemed to tense all the more. Finally, as I imagined my foot relaxing like a fish, I was able to release.

            The second image, with the string, was what I played with in technique class. My psoas is not the strongest muscle in my body. I can’t hold the weight of my legs by myself. However, the use of this image aided my attempts. Instead of using the idea of a string to pull my knee to my head, I used the image of a pole, something that wouldn’t break. Not only did a pole seem to lift my knees higher than I usually can, another pole seemed to be pushing my sitz bones towards the floor. I knew then that I was at least starting to access the correct muscles, since my leg wasn’t dropping to the floor.

            I think both of these images will help me as I continue to strengthen my psoas. I know that my rectus still wants to kick in a lot (and even take over) in technique class. However, I’m starting to believe that my psoas will be able to hold my leg up by itself if I continue to do my pilates work correctly.