It has to be a wives tale--like eating ground tiger bone is suspose to make you strong.

At worst Hulu Hoop can aggrivate lower back or hip injuries and is not likely to be perscribed if one has arthritus of the hips. Since this exercise works the medium and lower stomach muscels, thighs, gults, and lower back muscels, the interior admoninal muscles are not greatly involved. If anything the whole of the body benefits from the alivation of blood pressure and supplies more oxygen and nutrients helping promote healthier tissue in general.