Hip Joint Facts

Hip Joint Facts

By Chris Tubb

• The hip joint is the most stable joint in the body due to a very deep socket (acetabulum)
• It is therefore designed for stability versus mobility
• The hip joint bears the weight of the upper body, head and trunk in upright posture and is therefore susceptible to degeneration
• The acetabular labrum (a ring of fibrocartilage) helps to increase the stability of the hip joint by deepening the socket
• Injury to the hip can result in pain in the groin, buttock or the lateral aspect (outside) of the hip
• Common hip pathologies include: osteoarthritis (OA), labral tears, trochanteric bursitis, tendonitis, snapping hip syndrome, femoro-acetabular impingement
• Treatments include surgery such as a total hip replacement, hip arthroscopy, injections, hydrotherapy or physiotherapy
• Research has shown atrophy or wasting of the gluteus maximus occurs with hip OA (Grimaldi et al, 2009).
• Strengthening the core muscles and gluteals is essential in recovering from a hip injury