A set of muscles and ligaments including the iliopsoas muscle and the iliofemoral ligament which influence turnout of the leg from the hip, and are primarily responsible for raising the leg upward. When raising the leg to the front, the hip flexors contract. When raising the leg to the rear, the hip flexors are stretched. The hip flexors are also stretched in the rear leg of any split.

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Definition based on the Contortion Glossary by Greg Ullman and Tige Young