BIOMECHANICS

OF hip
Presented
By
Dr. Nazish
Rafique
Lecturer
ZCPT

Function of Hip
The primary function of the hip joint
is to support the weight of the head,
arms, and trunk (HAT) both in static
erect posture and in dynamic postures
such as
Ambulation,
Running,
Stair climbing.
Structure of Hip
The hip joint or coxofemoral joint

Articulation with the acetabulum of the
pelvis and the head of the femur

Ball-and-socket joint

Synovial joint

Bones of Hip
Ilium
Ischium
Pubis
Femur

The acetabulum is formed by the pubis,
ischium and ilium bones

The pubis forms one
fifth of the acetabulum

The ischium forms two
fifths

The ilium forms the
remainder
Femoral Head

The head of the femur,
which forms
approximately
two-thirds of a sphere.
Acetabulum
Acetabular surface is covered with
articular cartilage that thickens
peripherally and laterally
Osseous acetabulum is deep and provides
static stability
Acetabular cavity is deepened by the
labrum, flat rim of fibrocartilage,
transverse acetabular ligament

Center edge (CE) angle /
angle of Wiberg
A line connecting the lateral rim of the
acetabulum and the center of the
femoral head.
This line forms an angle with the
vertical
The amount of inferior tilt of the
acetabulum.
CE angles in adults to average 38 in
men and 35 in women

The entire periphery of the
acetabulum is rimmed by a ring of
wedge-shaped fibrocartilage
Hydrostatic fluid pressure within
the intra-articular space was
greater within the labrum than
without,
The labrum may also enhance joint
lubrication if the labrum
adequately fits the femoral head.

Removal of the transverse acetabular
ligament and labrum did not affect the
loading pattern of the acetabulum

Acetabular labrum
Joint Capsule
Strong fibrous sleeve
Anteriorly
Proximally to the bone surrounding the
acetabulum.
Distally to the trochanteric line
Posteriorly
To the margins of the acetabulum and
surrounding bone
Neck of the femur- not to the trochanteric crest

Joint Capsule
The capsule is thickened anterosuperiorly,
where the predominant stresses occur
Relatively thin & loosely attached
posteroinferiorly
The femoral head & neck is intracapsular,
Both the greater & lesser trochanters are
extracapsular.
The synovial membrane lines the inside of
the capsule.
Joint Capsule
Intrinsic stability is provided by the
congruency of joint structure, and
ligamentous support
Prone to dislocation in a position of
flexion , abduction and internal rotation
(dashboard injury)
Posterior capsule is relatively weaker
Close packed position is extension/
abduction/ internal rotation and
flexion (90)/ abduction/ external
rotation