Functionally Fit: RDL Hip Drivers

Brian demonstrates an exercise that will help increase hip mobility/stability, hamstring flexibility and desirable strength and balance for optimal physical performance in your clients.

Note: Some prefer to use the term RDL (Romanian dead lift), while others like SLDL (stiff legged dead lift) when referring to the first phase of this exercise. Call it what you like as long as you can perform it correctly.

See 'Related Resources' below for past Functionally Fits and other exercises and training tips.

Execution:

Begin standing on one leg with a slight amount of kneeflexion. Next, bend forward at the hip,keeping the back flat and lowering the hand opposite the stance leg to theground. Pause at the bottom and thenreturn to upright.

Instead of pausing at the start position as if doing just asingle leg RDL, you will drive the non-stance leg hip up into full flexion witha bent knee march posture. Pausemomentarily here and then move right back into the next RDL pattern as yourepeat the sequence.

Perform 2-3 sets of 10 on each leg, alternating sidesbetween sets. Remember to halt thedescent once the limits of your hamstring flexibility prevents motion withoutlumbar spine flexion.

Application:

Many of the clients you see will lack hipmobility/stability, hamstring flexibility and desirable strength and balancefor optimal physical performance. Thisexercise is the natural combination of a fluid single leg RDL and A march. It is ideal for athletes, runners and thosesuffering from single limb imbalances.

It encourages and promotes:

Dynamic hamstring flexibility
Gluteal muscle strengthening on the stance leg
Hip flexor strengthening on the non-stance leg
Proper arm and leg action desired for sprinting
Single limb proprioception & frontal plane knee stability

I prefer to use this activity in my dynamic warm-up seriesas it encourages posterior chain and hip muscle activation patterns I findlacking in many people. If clientsstruggle to master the drill, simply break it down into A marches and RDLsbefore putting the two together.Consider allowing the client to use mild toe touch and/or upper bodyassistance as needed until they master balance and form.

Precautions:

Be sure to monitor form closely and avoid lumbar spineflexion at all times. Active lumbar discpathology and poor balance may exclude some from utilizing this exercise.

Brian Schiff, PT, CSCS (www.brianschiff.com) is a licensed physical therapist,respected author and fitness professional. He became a Certified Strength and ConditioningSpecialist (CSCS) in 1998. Currently, he serves as the supervisor at theAthletic Performance Center in Raleigh, NC. Brian presents nationally atseveral professional conferences and seminars on injury prevention, rehab andsport-specific training.