The Effect of Hip Joint Functional Training on Speed, Flexibility, and Related Performance in Physical Education in College Students

Recent studies have identified the hip joint as a central component of the human kinetic chain, playing a pivotal role in optimizing force transmission during movement. Enhancing its functional capacity represents an effective strategy for enhancing overall physical well-being and preventing injuries. This study investigates the effects of an eight-week hip joint functional training program on the health-related physical fitness, hip joint function, and factors associated with injury risk in university students from a track and field elective class. A total of 56 participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 28) or a control group (n = 28). The experimental group incorporated hip joint functional training, which comprising dynamic stretching and activation exercises, into their standard physical education (PE) class activities, while the control group continued with the regular physical education curriculum. Pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments included hip joint range of motion (ROM), functional movement screening (FMS), a 50 m sprint, standing long jump, sit-and-reach test, and spinal health evaluations. Results indicated that the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in multi-directional hip range of motion (ROM), with examples including flexion increasing by 10° and external rotation by 9°. These improvements were accompanied by significant gains in functional movement screen (FMS) scores, with significant improvements in the Hurdle Step, whose median score increased to 3.0, Active Straight Leg Raise, and Rotary Stability components (all p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Furthermore, the training significantly reduced spinal asymmetry (axial trunk rotation reduced from 3.86°to 3.43°) and enhanced performance in the 50 m sprint (−0.26 s) and standing long jump (+0.08 m) (all p < 0.05). These objective improvements in functional movement patterns, postural alignment, and physical performance are associated with key biomechanical factors known to influence injury risk, such as the demonstrated gains in joint mobility and movement efficiency. Therefore, incorporating hip joint functional training into college physical education programs may effectively enhance students’ fundamental movement quality, improve joint stability, and promote postural health, thereby mitigating key biomechanical risk factors. This approach offers a practical strategy for educators to improve student physical health in general PE settings.