Can’t Do the 90/90 Hip Switch? Here’s What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You

“The 90/90 stretch is one of the most effective hip stretches you can perform,” says Grayson Wickham, DPT, CSCS, founder of Movement Vault. “It targets all of your hip rotator muscles, including your gluteus, piriformis, and deep hip rotator muscles. It will specifically help you improve your internal and external hip rotation, which most people struggle with.”

So, what does it mean if you can’t do this stretch?

“The 90/90 takes a prerequisite amount of mobility in your hips to get into the starting position,” Wickham says. “If your hips are very tight, you will not be able to get into this position without pain. This is a sign that you should work on a less advanced active stretch first and build your way up.”

How to Do the 90/90 Hip Switch

To start, let’s show you how to do the 90/90 hip switch — with tips and modifications to help if you can’t quite nail this move.

If you’ve had any previous hip injuries or surgeries, make sure you talk to your doctor before doing this stretch. Remember, you should feel a stretch but not sharp pain.

“The 90/90 stretch is a great stretch for almost anyone, but you always want to listen to your body,” Wickham says. “If you have a sharp pain and/or pinching in either of your hips while in this position, you will want to adjust your position or work on a different stretch first.”

90/90 Hip Switch

Time: One minute

Type: Flexibility

1. Start by sitting up straight on a mat.
2. Bend one leg in front of your body, with the leg rotated out so the outside of your thigh is on the floor. Your knee should be bent at 90 degrees, with your knee, shin, and foot resting on the floor.
3. Bring the other leg behind your body with your leg turned in. This back knee should also be bent at 90 degrees, with your knee, shin, and foot resting on the floor.
4. Your trunk will turn with the leg in front — however, make sure you keep your back straight and shoulders back. Try not to lean to one side. Sit on both hips evenly.
5. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds.
6. Move your legs up and switch sides, so that the other leg is rotated out in front and the other rotated in behind you.
7. Hold 30 to 60 seconds.
8. Repeat two to three times on each side.

Once you have perfected this move, Wickham says to turn this into an active stretch for best results.

“You can do this by driving your front leg and ankle down into the ground as hard as possible, while you maintain your maximal stretch,” he says. “Turning the 90/90 stretch from a passive to an active stretch will make it 10 times more effective. When you are actively stretching, you are essentially getting stronger at your hips’ end range of motion, which is typically the range of motion in which you are the weakest.”

Pain, Pinching, or Stiffness in the Front Leg

If your front leg is experiencing any stiffness, pinching, or pain, it could mean you have limited hip external rotation.

“Having limited hip external rotation will make it difficult to get into the starting position and perform the stretch properly,” Wickham says.

To help you improve mobility in external rotation, Wickham recommends the following stretches, as well as modifications.

1. Standing Hip External Rotation

“This is the same position that your front leg would be in during the 90/90 stretch, but the standing version is a lot less challenging,” Wickham says.

Sets: Three

Time: 30 seconds

Type: Flexibility

1. Stand in front of a stool, table, or other surface that’s slightly lower than hip height.
2. Place your right leg on the table, your leg externally rotated out and your outer thigh resting on the table.
3. You can remain upright or lean forward for a deeper stretch.
4. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat three to five times.
5. Repeat on the other other leg.

2. Piriformis Stretch

Sets: Three

Time: 15 seconds

Type: Flexibility

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
2. Bend one leg over the other, resting your ankle on the opposite knee.
3. Place your hands behind your leg and pull up toward your chest, feeling a stretch in the hip of the bent leg.
4. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds and repeat three to five times.
5. Switch legs and repeat on the opposite side.

3. 90/90 Hip Switch for External Rotation

Sets: Two

Time: 30 seconds

Type: Flexibility

1. Start by sitting up straight on a mat.
2. Bend one leg in front of you, with the leg rotated out.
3. Place a pillow or yoga block under your outside knee so you still feel a stretch but no pain.
4. Bring the other leg behind your body, with your leg turned in, and your knee, shin, and foot resting on the floor. Both knees should be bent at 90 degrees.
5. Your trunk will turn with the leg in front — however, make sure you keep your back straight and shoulders back. Try not to lean to one side. Sit on both hips evenly.
6. Reset back to center before lowering your knee back down to the block.
7. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds and repeat two to three times on each side.

As your mobility improves, use a flatter pillow or smaller yoga block until your knee is flat on the ground.

Pain, Pinching, or Stiffness in the Back Leg

Similar to the front leg, discomfort in the back leg could be a sign of limited hip internal rotation.

There are stretches and modifications to give you the flexibility to work your way into the full stretch. Wickham recommends this banded hip internal rotation, in which a belt or resistance band is used to help gently pull the hip joint, allowing you to improve hip mobility.

1. Banded Hip Internal Rotation

Reps: 10

Type: Flexibility

1. Place a resistance band or belt around the leg of a sturdy table or chair.
2. Get on your knees and place the band around your hips.
3. Scoot away so there’s tension on the band. The band isn’t to provide resistance, but to gently pull your hip joint in a more optimal position for a stretch.
4. Place your hands on the floor so you’re on all fours.
5. Move your foot outward, which rotates your hip internally.
6. Hold the foot outward for one to two seconds, and perform 8 to 10 reps.
7. Repeat on the other leg.

2. 90/90 Hip Switch With Hip Pillow

Time: One minute

Type: Flexibility

1. Place a pillow underneath your hips, which will lift them off the ground and put your back hip into less of an internally rotated position.
2. Start with a larger pillow and progress to a flatter pillow — then, eventually, no pillow as your mobility improves.
3. Continue the 90/90 stretch as normal.

3. 90/90 Hip Switch for Internal Rotation

“This helps a lot of times when someone feels pain on the inside of their back knee and is helpful to reduce this pain and strain on the ligaments on the inside of your back knee,” Wickham says.

Sets: Two

Time: 30 seconds

Type: Flexibility

1. Start by sitting up straight on a mat.
2. Bend one leg in front of your body, with the leg rotated out so the outside of your thigh is on the floor. Your knee should be bent at 90 degrees, with your knee, shin, and foot resting on the floor.
3. Bring the other leg behind your body, with your leg turned in.
4. Place a pillow or yoga block centered in front of you.
5. Your trunk will turn with the leg in front — however, make sure you keep your back straight and shoulders back. Try not to lean to one side. Sit on both hips evenly.
6. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds.
7. Move your legs up for a rest, then lower your knee back down.
8. Repeat two to three times on each side.

Hard Time Staying Upright, Keeping Your Back Straight

Difficulty sitting up straight could be a sign of decreased spinal mobility.

“Having a tight midsection and/or low back muscles will make it difficult to maintain an upright position with your upper body,” says Wickham. “This makes performing the stretch correctly very difficult.”

1. Segmented Cat

Reps: Five

Type: Flexibility

1. Start on all fours with your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips.
2. Start by tucking your butt/tailbone under.
3. Then lift up your mid-spine. Focus on making a fluid wave with your spine.
4. Lastly, lift up your thoracic area as you tuck your chin in.
5. Then, unwind in the opposite direction. Look up to the ceiling and end with your tailbone in the air.
6. Repeat five times.

2. Quadruped Side Bend

Sets: Three

Time: 30 seconds

Type: Flexibility

1. Start kneeling and sit back on your heels, letting your hands stretch straight out in front of you.
2. Hold this position for 30 seconds.
3. Move your hands to one side, feeling the stretch along your side.
4. Hold for 30 seconds.
5. Walk your hands over to the other side and hold for 30 seconds.
6. Repeat three times on each side.

The Takeaway

• The 90/90 hip switch is a stretch that improves hip and knee mobility.
• If you’re unable to do the 90/90 hip switch, there are other exercises that might help improve your mobility.
• Once you’re able to do the 90/90 hip switch, turning it into an active stretch can provide the best results.