Video of the Week- Corrections For Hip Extension Exercises

The following videos are corrective strategies for hip extension exercises.  In San Jose I am finding that while performing bent knee and straight leg hip extension exercises some of our players have external rotation at the hip.  At first I thought it was because of a dominant lateral hamstring, but after talking with Tobe Hanson our soft tissue specialist and Jim Reeves through a forum post, it became clear it is due to a tight and over worked lateral quad (Vastus Lateralis).  The skating position demands alot out of the quad musculature and causes it to become overworked.  With these simple changes to exercises that many of you are using today, we can properly utilize the entire hamstring group as hip extensors.  It should be understood that our athletes invest alot of time in soft tissue work on the lateral quad to reduce tightness and the "matting down" of the surrounding tissues.  You will see the exercise performed improperly and then by using bands or medicine balls you will see the exercise performed correctly.