Hips, Chairs and Solutions

[OneGrayPony]

Having recently become serious about my riding again, I’m struggling a bit with mobility in my hips. Yes, I’m doing yoga daily, but my hips seem to get locked “straight” and when I get on a horse it takes about 10 minutes of walking before the weight of my legs pulls my hips down enough to be an effective rider. In the meantime, it pitches me forward before everything loosens, which is less than ideal for a number of reasons (like…you know…not wanting to end up on my face if someone decides to be naughty in the first couple of minutes of walk).

So, in addition to massage and yoga, I’m wondering if a good part of this is that my day job is as a programmer so I spend a lot of time in a seated position, with my thighs/knees turned inward, because of my natural conformation. I’m wondering whether a stability ball might help? Or is there another chair designed to mimic the seat of a saddle so that I can just acclimate my hips over time?

Other ideas are welcome!

[digihorse]

Fellow nerd here. Get a saddle chair. Keeps the hips in riding more rather than sitting on a flat object mode. Made huge difference for me

[OneGrayPony]

@digihorse

Fellow nerd here. Get a saddle chair. Keeps the hips in riding more rather than sitting on a flat object mode. Made huge difference for me

Thanks!!! Do you have a recommendation for a good one?

[digihorse]

Here’s a higher dollar one: https://www.amazon.com/BetterPosture-Multifunctional-Ergonomic-Posture-Tilting/dp/B003BWS8GC

I got a cheaper one… which worked… but the lift finally gave out… which I fixed with a simple black ABS pipe so it stayed at the required height What was most important to me… was something with a “narrow twist” LOL.

[OneGrayPony]

@digihorse

I got a cheaper one… which worked… but the lift finally gave out… which I fixed with a simple black ABS pipe so it stayed at the required height What was most important to me… was something with a “narrow twist” LOL.

Thank you! Yeah, I’ve been looking at saddles with a bit of a narrower twist as well, to see if that will help, but since my hips CAN do it, they just get frozen up, I’m not sure that I need it all the time…I just need them to stay relaxed once I’ve got them stretched Just ordered!

[alibi_18]

@OneGrayPony

Having recently become serious about my riding again, I’m struggling a bit with mobility in my hips. Yes, I’m doing yoga daily, but my hips seem to get locked “straight” and when I get on a horse it takes about 10 minutes of walking before the weight of my legs pulls my hips down enough to be an effective rider. In the meantime, it pitches me forward before everything loosens, which is less than ideal for a number of reasons (like…you know…not wanting to end up on my face if someone decides to be naughty in the first couple of minutes of walk).

So, in addition to massage and yoga, I’m wondering if a good part of this is that my day job is as a programmer so I spend a lot of time in a seated position, with my thighs/knees turned inward, because of my natural conformation. I’m wondering whether a stability ball might help? Or is there another chair designed to mimic the seat of a saddle so that I can just acclimate my hips over time?

Other ideas are welcome!

But this is a good thing. That’s what you want sitting on your saddle.

Are you trying to « open » your hips in a different way than turning your thighs/knees inward?

Just drop your weight in your knees.

And like you said, try to find a saddle that might be a better fit, it could be the thing indering your position. You should « fall » into it right away.

[Stacie]

I’ve been using this chair for about 2 weeks and it is great. I have an uplift desk as well, so I’m not sure how well it works when you can’t change the height. I “perch” on it a lot with very open hips.
I am also a developer so at the computer ALL DAY

https://www.fully.com/hag-capisco-puls-chair.html

[OneGrayPony]

@alibi_18

But this is a good thing. That’s what you want sitting on your saddle.

Are you trying to « open » your hips in a different way than turning your thighs/knees inward?

Just drop your weight in your knees.

And like you said, try to find a saddle that might be a better fit, it could be the thing indering your position. You should « fall » into it right away.

It would be a good thing if I could get my upper thighs apart more than 4" I end up so that I cannot put my feet hip distance apart. Makes getting on really difficult. Thankfully I’m riding a patient horse atm.

This happened to me before, when I tried to return, even in my extremely narrow twisted hunt seat saddle I still had trouble. Makes it worse when you are trying to sit back

I am still working on saddle fit for me, and the yoga thing, but it’s just not enough. I’m sure there is an imbalance somewhere else and some muscle is overcompensating, but I’ve got to approach this multifactorially I think.

[Manni01]

another suggestion… probably too expensive, but it looks quite interesting…
https://equicizer.com/pages/overview

[OneGrayPony]

@no.stirrups

Those still keep the hip angle quite closed. Have you seen this: http://www.homehorse.com/about/

Huh! Really interesting though a bit pricey. Wonder if you could rig up something similar with an older saddle on a stand of some ilk. I’ve got a few older saddles sitting around that might be suitable. Very clever idea all the way around!

[Magicboy]

Omg…that’s Mike Smith in that ad!

[OneGrayPony]

@Manni01

another suggestion… probably too expensive, but it looks quite interesting…
https://equicizer.com/pages/overview

Also fascinating! Reminds me of my Wonder Horse that I had as a child!

[betsyk]

A yoga ball isn’t very expensive and would let you stretch in different ways throughout the day. Lying on/over it on your back would open up those hips!

[Snowdenfarm]

Another vote for a yoga ball. I sit on one at my desk. The nice thing is that while you can sit on it like a chair, you can also sit on it like one of the saddle chairs.

[DunByMistake]

I’m going to make a guess that your hip flexors and adductors are weak and your muscles are stiffening to compensate for them. I used to have the tightest hips ever. If I didn’t stretch every night, I was in pain and loss of mobility. I also sit/stand at a computer all day. I did a lot of acupuncture which did help a lot.

But this year, I committed myself to going to the gym to get in shape for upcoming cross country clinic. I’ve been doing a lot of glute focused work (I want a better butt!) especially hip thrusts and glute bridges. Both of those exercises create a stretch in hip flexors at top of motion as well as strengthening. Since I’ve been going to the gym, I rarely have hip pain. I almost never stretch and my hips have never felt better. I’ve gained a lot of strength in my hip flexors and adductors. I’ve come to realize that my former stiffness was due to weakness - my body was trying to hold itself together by being stiff.

Just a thought anyways. A physio would be able to help you with exercises or you can look up hip thrusts, glute bridges and single leg glute bridges online. There’s a lot of great videos on YouTube.

[OneGrayPony]

@DunByMistake

I’m going to make a guess that your hip flexors and adductors are weak and your muscles are stiffening to compensate for them. I used to have the tightest hips ever. If I didn’t stretch every night, I was in pain and loss of mobility. I also sit/stand at a computer all day. I did a lot of acupuncture which did help a lot.

Totally makes sense I’m working on that part as well - but maybe should be a little more targeted. I’m sure there’s an imbalance in me muscularly somewhere that is causing some of this. My actual guess is that it’s related to my lower abs, and everything is stiffening to save my back, but who knows. Bodies are amazing!

[SonnysMom]

Many people at my work are going to the standing desks. They are really easy to switch from standing to sitting multiple times through the day.

How about starting really low tech? Go to the dollar store, buy different sized balls and sit with them between your knees while your work on the computer. Work your way up to the bigger balls. This keeps you from unconsciously keeping your thighs/knees touching all day and over time may spread your hips.
I know I tend to sit at my desk with my thighs touching and my feet curled way under my chair directly under my butt.

I am thinking if you get a standing desk you will want something to encourage you to stand with your feet spread apart.

[OneGrayPony]

@SonnysMom

How about starting really low tech? Go to the dollar store, buy different sized balls and sit with them between your knees while your work on the computer. Work your way up to the bigger balls. This keeps you from unconsciously keeping your thighs/knees touching all day and over time may spread your hips.
I know I tend to sit at my desk with my thighs touching and my feet curled way under my chair directly under my butt.

Hey - that’s a seriously good ideal and definitely low tech. Could use that when I’m knitting on the couch too. Thinking I’ll make a trip to the dollar store this afternoon!

[soloudinhere]

I have one of these. Cheap, and if you wanted to, I don’t see why you couldn’t stick a saddle on it and sit.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30309724/

[Mondo]

I’m not a doctor, but as someone who’s had one hip replaced and is contemplating getting the other one done, I have to say you sound a lot like me. I didn’t have pain. I was able to ride quite well after that 10 minutes of getting unstuck. (OK, the dismount filled me with dread.) Thank goodness I had horses to ride that would tolerate my stiffness. The few I’m riding now are not so forgiving. Anyway, I might suggest that you consider going to the doctor and getting your hips x-rayed. It’s entirely possible that your hip joints are worn down and need to be replaced. Some people just get the stiffness without the pain. You might be very surprised. Also, FWIW, I too am in a tech job and spend all day sitting in front of my computer, plus an hour each way to/from work sitting in my car. Standing, yoga, etc., didn’t help. It was the hip replacement that made all the difference. Now I only have the problem on the side that I haven’t gotten fixed yet.