Um, well, the question about hip flexors was just meant as an example of what golfer's should be thinking about.
Anatomically, hip flexion is the forward movement of the thigh at the hip, such as when you take a step forward. Extension is the opposite movement, such as the backward movement of the thigh, as in when your body moves forward when walking, and the back leg is relatively behind you.
So, when we sit, we are statically in hip flexion. Which means that the hip flexors, the muscles that flex the hip, are in a shortened position.
The textbooks will usually say that the hip should be able to move into extension by at least 10 to 15 degrees (zero degrees being in line with the trunk/body when standing straight), although the actual movement varies considerably.
There are some specific hip flexor tests in the textbooks (eg. Thomas test), but what I do is simply view my client from the side, get them to put most of their body weight onto the same side leg, and then ask them to reach their arms overhead, then reach behind them as far as they can. What I look for is the quality of movement. Do the hips move? Is there a dissociation between the thigh and the pelvis, indicating true hip extension? Is there an excessive amount of movement occuring at the spine? (a common finding)
The whole point, however, is that many of us spend more time sitting than standing or walking, and then we compound it by sleeping lying on our sides, with your hips and knees bent. Some people even tell me they sleep on their back, with a pillow or two under their knees. Sure, it feels good on the spine, but they would be better off developing adequate flexibility and strength of the hip girdles. This positioning that people fall into is nothing more than a bandaid, which is actually reinforcing dysfunction, and further tightness of the hips, whicj eventually will affect the joint itself (hip flexion contracture)
Man, I have to learn to make shorter, more concise posts!
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