Weekend Challenge: Hip Mobility Improver Plus - Save Our Bones

This weekend’s challenge is a low-impact, highly effective move that increases hip mobility and strengthens the hips, glutes, and thighs. Additionally, this exercise prevents and reverses a painful condition known as trochanteric bursitis, an inflammation of the outer bursa in the hip.

The Hip Mobility Improver Plus also stimulates new bone growth in the ever-important pelvis, helping to prevent hip fractures. And it does this by targeting an often-overlooked muscle: the gluteus medius.

Let’s get started!

Why:

If you’re a regular reader and a part of the Saver community, then you know how frequently we refer to the “glutes.” When most people think of these important buttocks muscles, they think of the gluteus maximus (the most obvious and largest of the glutes). While this is certainly a key muscle to strengthen, the gluteus medius is no less important.

This gluteus medius is one of three muscles that make up the gluteal muscles: the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus. The gluteus medius is a relatively large muscle that lies on the exterior part of the pelvis, connecting the outside of the ilium (that’s the large, wing-shaped hip bone) and the greater trochanter, which is the top of the femur bone.

Because of its location, the gluteus medius’ insertion point is cushioned by a bursa at the top of the femur known as the trochanteric bursa. Bursae are small sacs filled with a gelatinous substance, found in joints throughout the body. They act as a friction-reducer in joints, cushioning the contact point between bone and soft tissue.

When the outer membrane of the bursa becomes inflamed for various reasons (discussed below), the bursa produces more of the viscous inner fluid, causing swelling and tenderness.

If you’ve ever experienced the pain and discomfort of trochanteric bursitis, then you know exactly where this bursa is located! These bursae become inflamed due to various factors, such as:

  • Injury from falling, blunt impact, immobility (as when lying on one side for an extended period), and so forth.
  • Repetitive stress from overuse, such as excessive standing without an exercise break, going up and down stairs frequently, etc.
  • Some disorders of the spine can cause trochanteric bursitis, such as scoliosis.
  • Osteoarthritis in the low back (lumbar vertebrae) and rheumatoid arthritis can also aggravate the trochanteric bursa.
  • Calcium deposits and bony growths (such as spurs) can develop in the connecting tendons, thus irritating the bursa as the tendon glides over the trochanter.
  • If one leg is longer than the other, it places unequal stress on the hip joint, potentially aggravating the bursa.
  • Hip surgery – including hip replacement – can set the stage for trochanteric bursitis by irritating the area.
  • Infection can also cause painful inflammation of the bursa.

Typically, trochanteric bursitis symptoms include sharp pain at the top of the femur, often extending down the outer thigh. As time goes by, the pain may become worse and cover a larger area. Lying down on the affected side worsens the pain, as does getting up after sitting for a long time.

The good news is that low-impact exercises like the Hip Mobility Improver Plus target this exact area by working the gluteus medius, thus relieving and preventing this painful condition. Here’s how to do it:

How:

  1. Lie on your side on an exercise mat or similarly cushioned surface.
  2. Bend your knees at an approximate 45-degree angle; your knees should be atop one another.
  3. Turn your hips so they are “closed” – meaning tilted slightly toward the floor and facing slightly downwards as opposed to “open” hips that are flattened and spread out laterally. This position is very important for stimulating the gluteus medius.
  4. Place your hand on your hip to make sure the angle stays closed, and engage your glutes to lift your knee as you exhale. Your foot does not need to come up with your knee; your feet can stay together.
  5. Lift your knee as far as is comfortable without changing the closed position of your hips. Your abdominal muscles should also be engaged and holding your torso in position.
  6. Inhale as you bring your knee back down.
  7. Repeat the knee lifts 10 to 15 times or as many as you’re comfortable doing. Then switch sides for another set of 10 to 15.

Try following up with these other challenges that work the pelvis:

This weekend’s exercise (as well as the other challenges listed above) are fantastic for strengthening the hips and increasing mobility, key elements in fracture prevention. Have you ever had a doctor try to scare you into taking osteoporosis drugs by telling you you’ll break your hip in the future if you don’t take them?

Take Exercising For Your Bones to the Next Level!

Learn the 52 exercise moves that jumpstart bone-building – all backed by the latest in epigenetics research.

Learn More Now →

There’s no need to succumb to fear. The Osteoporosis Reversal Program’s pH-balanced nutrition, which includes lots of anti-inflammatory foods, combined with targeted exercise such as the moves in the Densercise™ Epidensity Training System is the optimal “prescription” for preventing fractures.

Have a great weekend!

The Top 14 Things You’re Doing That Are Damaging Your Bones... And More!

  • Stop The Bone Thieves! report
  • Email course on how to prevent and reverse bone loss
  • Free vital osteoporosis news and updates.
Get It Free Now

Comments on this article are closed.

  1. Henrietta Mark

    Thanks so much for all your good help and information.

  2. Karen

    Vivian you are SO knowledgeable, helpful & informative! GIGANTIC THANKS 4 ALL UR XTRA EFFORTS HELPING US NONINFORMED SOULS! Ur many tidbits r tremendously appreciated n sent out so others can connect with U. Do U have any fasting cleanse talks/suggestions? Comments on Dr Gundry’s concept of lectins?

  3. Glory B

    My physical therapist calls this exercise “clams” and using a Thera-Band just above the knees will make it more effective. Now he has me doing this in a more challenging way. I do a side plank position on one forearm and right now I’m doing a first set with both knees bent – 45 seconds – about 17 “clams”, with the Thera-Band still just above the knees.
    For the next challenge, the lower leg is bent while the upper leg is straight – still in the side plank with the Thera-Band around my knees.
    I’m not ready for the next challenge yet – both legs straight in a regular elbow side plank with the Thera-Band around my ankles, but I’ll get to that one some day.

  4. karen

    Can you clarify instruction #3, please. Your directions for “downward”, “flattened”, and “laterally” …. what part of the pelvis/hips, and relative to what?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Hi Karen,

      If you’ll take a look at the model, she is lying on her left side; so her right hip is facing upward. The right hip should be tilted somewhat toward the floor rather than rotated outward. I hope this helps!

  5. Joan

    Autocorrected my previous comment – sorry! Dexascan

  6. Joan

    I love the material here, I do the exercises religiously, I eat well and walk five m,lies a day. My endocrinologist and GP are STILL hounding me to begin Reclast! My degas can numbers are very bad. Is anyone else in the same boat?

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Welcome, Joan! It sounds like you are on the right track – I want to encourage you to keep exercising and eating a pH-balanced diet, and don’t get too upset about the DEXA numbers. 🙂

  7. Jeanne Shove

    I have Save Our Bones materials and save emails with exercises. Please direct me to exercises to stretch hamstrings. Thank you.

Get Started With Your FREE
Natural Bone Building Kit.

Get a free copy of our ‘Stop The Bone Thieves’ eBook, exclusive content that you can’t find anywhere else, plus vital osteoporosis news and updates.

Get It Free

Get Your Free Bone-Building Kit

FREE

‘Stop The Bone Thieves’ guide, exclusive info, plus vital osteoporosis news and updates.