Question
I have reduced somewhat the functional scoliosis that I did have as well as various bad posture abnormalities.

But quite often still I get pain in the muscles of the left side hip. This is still a mystery to me exactly which muscle/s of the side hip are hurting. Im guessing TFL. And yet I do daily foam rolling on the IT band with 5.25 inch PVC pipe with virtually no discomfort.

Another real mystery to me is if I was to do a standing side bend leaning over to the right I get pain above the crest of the illium right on a side muscle. Now to really feel the pain/stretch effect is if I while side bending to the right really concentrate on the muscles above the hip and below the ribs pull them up and use the arms hanging down at their sides squeezing the left hand and pull it up at the same time of the side bend. I dont think it is the QL as it would appear to be exactly on my side starting just above the crest of illium all the way to the 12th rib.

Of note when I do this side bend leaning over to the left there is no pain.

So I am guessing that there is so kind of tight / inhibited left vs. right side. Any ideas what muscle/s involved and specific stretches and strengthening excersizes that could be done?

Thanking you in advance.  

Answer
Sounds like your obliques are involved and possibly the iliacus muscle.

But no stretching or strengthening exercise is appropriate, as what is needed is to learn to relax the involved muscles.  They are neither "short" nor weak, but contracting actively.

For more perspective on stretching and strengthening, please see the article on stretching at somatics.com/page4.htm.

I would recommend the somatic exercise program, "Outgrowing the Myth of Aging" (The Cat Stretch -- which involves no stretching, but actually the opposite, as explained in the article.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold