Hip pain can affect your ability to move comfortably and enjoy daily activities, but the NHS offers clear guidance to help manage and reduce discomfort. By staying active, making lifestyle adjustments, and seeking professional advice when needed, you can take control of your hip health.
Here’s a detailed summary of the NHS advice and how our Retired & Fitter 5 Day Focus - HIPS program aligns with these recommendations to support you on your journey to healthier hips.
1. Stay Active
Regular movement is essential for maintaining joint mobility and building strength around the hips. The NHS encourages gentle, low-impact exercises to keep the hips moving without causing strain.
Examples include:
Walking: A simple, accessible way to stay active.
Swimming: Provides full-body movement while being easy on the joints.
Light stretching: Helps to reduce stiffness and improve flexibility.
💡 Our 5 Day Focus - HIPS program includes mobility exercises to keep your hips healthy and moving.
2. Stretch and Strengthen
Targeted stretches and strengthening exercises are vital for easing tension, improving flexibility, and building muscle to support the hips.
Why it helps:
Stretching reduces tightness in the muscles around the hips.
Strengthening creates a more stable joint, reducing the risk of injury or further pain.
💡 With classes like Hip Stretch and Stronger Hips, our program is designed to help you stretch and strengthen safely.
3. Use Pain Relief
Managing pain effectively can help you stay active and motivated. The NHS recommends:
Medications: Over-the-counter pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, can ease discomfort.
Hot or Cold Packs: Apply heat to soothe tight muscles or cold to reduce inflammation.
💡 Pairing pain relief with gentle exercises like those in our program can enhance recovery.
4. Manage Your Weight
Excess weight puts additional strain on your hips, potentially worsening pain. Maintaining a healthy weight helps alleviate pressure on the joints and supports long-term hip health.
💡 Regular, low-impact exercise—like the routines in our program—can contribute to weight management and improve hip function.
5. Modify Activities
Certain high-impact or strenuous activities can exacerbate hip pain. Instead, the NHS advises modifying your movements to reduce strain on the joint.
Tips include:
Avoid prolonged standing or repetitive motions that stress the hips.
Adapt everyday movements with supportive tools if needed.
💡 Our gentle Pilates and mobility exercises are designed to be low-impact, making them suitable for anyone with hip pain.
6. Seek Professional Help
If hip pain persists or worsens, the NHS recommends consulting a GP or physiotherapist. A physiotherapist can provide:
Tailored exercises to meet your needs.
Advice on managing pain and improving mobility safely.
💡 Our 5 Day Focus - HIPS program offers physiotherapist-approved exercises to support your journey to better hip health.
Additional NHS Recommendations
The NHS also suggests simple adjustments to improve hip health and reduce pain:
Supportive Footwear: Shoes with proper support can improve posture and reduce strain on the hips.
Assistive Devices: A cane or walker may provide extra stability and reduce pressure on the joint.
Take Action with Retired & Fitter
At Retired & Fitter, we align with NHS advice by offering a program that supports your hip health through safe, effective exercises.
💪 5 Day Focus - HIPS includes:
Hip Mobility: Loosen stiff joints.
Hip Stretch: Relieve tightness.
Gentle Pilates for Hips: Strengthen and stabilize.
Side-Lying Pilates: Strengthen hips and glutes.
Stronger Hips: Build long-term strength and support.
🎉 Each class is just 15 minutes, making it easy to fit into your day!
📲 Start your journey to healthier, stronger hips today!
🔑 Getting started is easy—download the Retired & Fitter app, get access for £8.99, or choose a full membership for £9.99 per month for all our classes and Focus series. This isn’t just a fitness app; it’s a way to stay active, strong, and live your best life!
