Biomechanics

of
the Hip
 Pelvic Girdle
• The two hip bones plus the
sacrum
• Can be rotated forward,
backward, and laterally to
optimize positioning of the hip
joint
 Pelvic girdle
ilium sacrum

acetabulum

ischium pubis Obturator

foramen
Pelvic Bone
Pelvic Bone
 Anterior Tilt
• Forward tilting
and downward
movement of the
pelvis
• Occurs when the
hip extends
 Posterior Tilt

• Tilting of the

pelvis posteriorly

• Occurs when the

hip flexes
 Lateral Tilt
• Tilting of the pelvis from
neutral position to the right
or left
• Lateral tilt tends to occur
naturally when you support
your weight on your leg
• This allows you raise your
opposite leg enough to swing
through during gait
Pelvic Rotation
• Rotation of the pelvis defined
by the direction in which the
anterior aspect of the pelvis
moves
• Occurs naturally during
unilateral leg movements
(walking)
– As the right leg swings
forward during gait the
pelvis rotates left
 Hip Joint
• Consists of
– Pelvic bone
• Acetabulum
– Femur
Acetabulum
Acetabulum
Femur
Femur
Femur
 Structure of the Hip
• A ball and socket joint in which the head
of the femur articulates with the concave
acetabulum
• The hip is more stable than the shoulder
– Bone structure
– The number and strength of the
muscles and ligaments crossing the
joint
 Acetabular Labrum
• Acetabulum is not a
complete circle,
open inferiorly
• This opening is
closed by the
transverse ligament
 Head Ligament
• Head of femur
attached to
inside of
acetabulum by
ligamentum
teres
Capsule
 Ligaments
• Iliofemoral ligament or the “Y ligament of
Bigelo”
– Triangular in shape
– Supports hip anteriorly, resists extension, internal
rotation and some external rotation
• Pubofemoral
– Runs from the superior pubic ramus and the
acetabular rim, to just above lesser trochanter
– Resists abduction with some resistance to external
rotation
 Ligaments
• Ischiofemoral ligament
– From the ischium to the posterior neck of
the femur – is directed upwards and laterally
– Resists adduction and internal rotation
– All three loose during flexion
 Ligaments

Anterior view Posterior view

Vascular
Vascular
Lumbar Division
 Hip Goniometry
• Flexion/Extension
– 125-140 (with knees flexed)/0/10-20
– 90 (with knees extended)/0/10-20
• Abduction/Adduction
– 45/0/20-30
• Internal Rotation/External Rotation
– 35-45/0/40-50
 Hip Movements
• Hip Flexion
 Hip Movements
• Flexion
– Psoas major
– Iliacus
– Assisted by:
• Pectineus
• Rectus femoris
• Sartorius
• Tensor fascia latae
Psoas major

Iliacus
Pectineus
Rectus femoris
Tensor fascia latae

Sartorious

Iliotibial band
 Hip Movements
• Hip
Extension
 Hip Movements
• Extension
– Gluteus Maximus
– Hamstrings
• Biceps Femoris
• Semimembranosus
• Semitendinosus
Gluteus maximus
 Hip Movements
• Hip Abduction
 Hip Movements
• Abduction
– Gluteus Medius
– Assisted By:
• Gulteus Minimus
Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus
 Hip Movements
• Hip Adduction
 Hip Movements
• Adduction
– Adductor Magnus
– Adductor Longus
– Adductor Brevis
– Assisted By:
• Gracilis
Gracilis
 Hip Movements
• Internal/Medial
Rotation
– Gulteus Minimus

– Tensor fascia
latae
 Hip Movements
• External/Lateral
Rotation
– Obturator Externus

– Obturator Internus

– Quadratus femoris

– Piriformis
Obturator Externus
Obturator Internus
Piriformis
Quadratus femoris
Angle of Inclination
 Coxa Vara
• The angle of inclination is less than 125
degrees
• This shortens the limb
• Increases the effectiveness of the
abductors
• Reduces the load on the femoral head
• Increases the load on the femoral neck
 Coxa Valga
• The angle of inclination is greater than 125
degrees
• This lengthens the limb
• Reduces the effectiveness of the abductors
• Increases the load on the femoral head
• Reduces the load on the femoral neck
Hip Angles

• 14-15 degrees

• Moves CM more

directly over base

of support
Anteversion
• The angle of the femoral
neck in the transverse
plane
• Normally the femoral neck
is rotated anteriorly 12 to
14 degrees with respect to
the femur
Excessive Anteversion
• Excessive anteversion
beyond 14 degrees causes
the head of the femur
become uncovered
• In order to keep the head
of the femur within the
acetabulum a person must
internally rotate the femur
Retroversion

• The angle of anteversion is

reversed so that it moves
posteriorly
• This condition causes the
person to externally rotate
the femur
 Loads on the Hip
• During swing phase of walking:
– Compression on hip approx. same as body
weight (due to muscle tension)
• Increases with hard-soled shoes
• Increases with gait increases (both
support and swing phase)
• Body weight, impact forces translated
upward thru skeleton from feet and
muscle tension contribute to compressive
load on hip
 250 N

600 N
Using A Walking Stick
Using a walking stick how
it reduces JRF
Using a walking stick how
it reduces JRF
• In equilibrium sum of moments = 0

• Without stick

MxA=WxB

M = (W x B)/A
Using a walking stick how
it reduces JRF
 Using a walking stick how
it reduces JRF
• With sitck
(M x A)+(Ws x C) = W x B
M = [(W x B)-(Ws x C)]/A
• So the force required by the abductors M
is smaller if a stick is used
• The bigger C is, the smaller M is therefore
a walking stick in the hand furthest away
from the hip is most effective
Using a walking stick how
it reduces JRF
• In equilibrium, the sum of the forces in
the Y plane = 0
• Without stick
JRF sin θ  = M + W
• With stick
JRF sin θ + Ws = M +W
JRF sin θ = M + W - Ws
Using a walking stick how
it reduces JRF

• Therefore JRF is less when a walking

stick is used. Not only is M force smaller,

but the upward force exerted by the stick

reduces the JRF further

 opposite
same

hurt
leg W hurt
leg
W