FT 1: Week 6: Hips

When pushing into standing or extension, she is using the 

• gluteals, 
• hamstrings 
• other hip extensors 

When sitting, she is working on the 

• hip flexors 
• specifically the iliopsoas
• lumbar flexors and extensors

There are other muscles working in the stifle.  We will get to those next term.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFCAu8pcO_A

In thinking about the hips, extension and flexion, and different Sit positions, I thought about one of Lily's service dog behaviors, Visit. In Visit, Lily sits and then lifts her front paws onto my lap. She was taught to do this behavior because she maintains the weight of her body and can then rest her forelimbs almost weightlessly on my lap - for retrieving to hand, for resting her chin in my lap, for various husbandry chores that I can then perform while remaining seated myself.

Again, the behavior includes hip flexion. It includes extension of the forelimbs and extension of the cervical spine.

Demonstrating great strength in the

• lumbar area
• pelvis
• hips  

She is also working her spinal extensors to support herself.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdfOgEcVXbU

And then, Debbie, thinking of it from a purely hip extension POV, would the "dance with your dog" be the partner to this exercise? The extension to the flexion?

Dancing is a great method of working the 

• spinal extensors  
• the hip extensors
• extensors for the knee and the hock