Hip Muscles

Question 1

Primary Hip Flexors

Answer 1

Iliopsoas
Sartorius
Tensor Fascia Latae
Rectus Femoris
Adductor Longus
Pectineus

Question 2

Primary Hip Adductors

Answer 2

Pectineus
Adductor Longus
Gracilis
Adductor Brevis
Adductor Magnus

Question 3

Primary Hip Extensors

Answer 3

Gluteus maximus
Biceps femoris (long head)
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Adductor magnus

Question 4

Primary Hip Abductors

Answer 4

Gluteus medius
Gluteus minimus
Tensor Fascia Latae

Question 5

Primary Hip External Rotators

Answer 5

Gluteus maximus
Piriformis
Obturator internus
Gemellus Superior
Gemellus Inferior
Quadratus femoris

Question 6

Hip Flexion Close Chain (Pelvis on Femur) Muscle Function

Answer 6

Anterior Pelvic Tilt -> results in increased lumbar lordosis
(increased compressive load & anterior shear at lumbosacral junction L5-S1)

Question 7

Hip Flexion Open Chain (Femur on Pelvis) Muscle Function

Answer 7

Often coupled with knee flexion
Hip Flexors produce strong contraction & abdominal muscles have to work to keep pelvis stable

Question 8

Hip Flexion Muscles

Answer 8

Iliopsoas (contracts bilaterally)
Sartorius
Tensor Fascia Latae
Rectus femoris
Pectineus
Adductor Longus

Question 9

Hip Extension Muscles

Answer 9

Glute Max
Hamstrings
Adductor magnus (posterior head)

*All Adductors can extend hip when its flexed more than 70 degrees

Question 10

Hip Extension Close Chain (Pelvis on Femur) Muscle Function

Answer 10

-Posterior Pelvic Tilt
-Forward Lean (reduces moment arm of glute max but increases moment arm of hamstrings)
Increases passive tension of hamstrings if knees are straight

Question 11

Hip Extension Open Chain (Femur on Pelvis) Muscle Function

Answer 11

-Required to produce large/powerful hip extension torque to accelerate body forward/upward
-Interdependence (if large contraction in flexors, hip extensors must match & exceed that torque)

Question 12

Hip Adductor Muscle Function

Answer 12

-Huge moment arms
-Large physiological cross-sectional area
-Work during Sagittal Plane when outside of 40-70 degree hip flexion arc

Question 13

Hip Abduction Muscle Function

Answer 13

-Glute med (60%), Glute min (20%), TFL (10%)
-Gait & single leg stance
-Hip Abduction Force is 2x bodyweight to maintain a stable pelvis

Question 14

Hip Internal Rotators Muscle Function

Answer 14

-Only secondary IRs :Glute min, glute med, TFL, adductor longus, adductor brevis, pectineus, medial hamstrings
-Most important for stance phase of gait
-IR is much stronger w/ 90 degrees of flexion

Question 15

Hip External Rotators Muscle Function

Answer 15

-Glute Max, “short external rotators”, Sartorius
-Most evident during pelvis on femur movements (close chain) on leg w/ planted foot & pelvis rotates away from planted limb

Question 16

What stretch can target the hip’s external rotators?

Answer 16

Piriformis

Question 17

What therapeutic exercise can target the hip extensor muscles in Open-chain position?

Answer 17

Single-leg squat, pistol squat

Question 18

What therapeutic exercise can target the hip extensor muscles in Closed-chain position?

Answer 18

Single-leg deadlift

Question 19

What therapeutic exercise can target the hip flexor muscles in Open-chain position?

Answer 19

Ab exercises -> V ups, 6 inch hold, etc.

Question 20

If you want to get a better stretch in hamstrings, what can you instruct patient to do with their hips?

Answer 20

Eliminate the posterior pelvic tilt and flex at the hip a little

Question 21

Single-Leg Stance hip abduction

Answer 21

HAF 2x bodyweight
JRF 2.5x bodyweight