Hip flexors are muscles helping you lift your knee toward your chest and to bend at the waist. The hip flexor muscles include the following:

  • the iliopsoas (iliacus and psoas) major muscles
  • the rectus femoris (part of your quadriceps)

These muscles and the tendon connected to your bones can easily be strained if overusing them. Symptoms associated with a hip flexor strain can range from mild to severe and can greatly impact your functional mobility. If you don’t rest and seek treatment immediately, your hip flexor strain symptoms could worsen. But there are many at-home activities/exercises and remedies that can help alleviate hip flexor strain symptoms.

Symptoms of Hip Flexor Strain

Hip flexor strains’ most common symptom is pain at the front of the hip. However, there are several other indications associated with the condition, which are the following:

  • sudden pain
  • increase in pain when lifting the thigh toward the chest
  • discomfort when stretching the hip muscles
  • muscle spasms in the thigh or hip
  • tender to touch the front of the hip
  • swelling or bruising at the hip or thigh

You may feel this pain and aches when running or walking.

Common Causes of Hip Flexor Strain

Hip flexor strain happens when you use your hip flexor muscles and tendons excessively. As a result, the muscles and tendons become inflamed, sore, and painful, and can be more likely than others to experience, such as:

  • cyclists
  • dancers
  • martial artists
  • football players
  • soccer players
  • step aerobatics

A hip flexor strain represents a tearing in the muscles that can range from mild to severe:

  • Grade I tear: minor tear where only a few fibers are torn or damaged
  • Grade II tear: where a significant number of torn muscle fibers and have a moderate loss of hip flexor function
  • Grade III tear: muscle fibers are completely ruptured or torn and can’t walk without a limp

If your hip flexor strain is so severe, your doctor may recommend seeing a physical therapist. When searching for the most reliable and trustworthy manual physical therapy, Massage Rx is the expert to call! We have a team of fully qualified physical therapists administering the best hip flexor therapy like no other. Whatever the cause is, no matter how severe your symptoms can be, we can help!

See our video here how we treat and enhance your hip flexor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7rZkc08dDQ

To learn more or to schedule your appointment with our hip flexor therapist, give us a call now!

Also, we are offering Sports Physical Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage Massage in Los Angeles!