A physical therapist says these are the three stretches you should be doing to release stiff hips after a lower-body workout

A woman in burgundy fitness gear sits on a blue yoga mat clasping her feet with her hands as she stretches her lower back.

After an intense lower-body workout, I find my hips begin to feel stiff and the muscles tighten if I forget to stretch, restricting my range of motion. While sore muscles can be somewhat satisfying at first—particularly after a heavy weight lifting session—it soon wears thin when you experience aches and pains every time you sit down and stand up.

Thankfully, there are some really easy stretching exercises you can use to loosen your stiff muscles and alleviate your post-workout aches. I asked physical therapist Stephanie Clark what she does when she's feeling the effects of a lower-body workout the next day. You can run through these stretches in under five minutes and repeat if necessary. Your hips, glutes and thighs will thank you for it.