Facebook Pixel
Brookbush Institute Logo
Cadaver photo of the acetabulum of the pelvis and femur connecting to form the hip joint. Text and arrows on the image in yellow labeling the boney landmarks, ligaments, bursae, and sciatic nerve

Hip Joint Anatomy (Pelvifemoral Joint)

Integrated functional anatomy of the hip joint - Bones, joints, palpation, ligaments, nerves, joint anatomy, joint actions, arthrokinematics, muscles, fascia, and range of motion of the hip joint. Highlighting the behaviors in postural dysfunction, lower cross syndrome, hip pain, hip impingement, low back pain, osteoarthritis, dysplasia, and common interventions for the hip joint.

Test Critical Content

Mark As Complete

Course Description: Hip Joint Anatomy (Pelvifemoral Joint)

This course describes hip anatomy; the joint developed by the joining of the pelvis at the acetabulum (hip socket) with the femur (thigh bone) at the femoral head. The hip is also known as the acetabulofemoral joint, pelvifemoral joint, and is occasionally referred to in sections including the pubofemoral joint, ischiofemoral joint, and iliofemoral joint. This course includes descriptions of the bones, synovial joints, joint actions, ligaments, joint capsule, bursae, articular cartilage, relative location, hip muscles, and hip movement. Further, this course discusses palpation and introduces hip joint (lower limb) specific exercises, manual techniques, and interventions for dysfunction, pain, posture, and movement impairment. The hip joint is included in the common compensation patterns known as an anterior pelvic tilt (APT), lower-crossed syndrome (LCS), hyperlordosis, lumbopelvic hip complex dysfunction (LPHCD), and sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD), and Lower Extremity Dysfunction (LED). Sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, etc.) with advanced knowledge of the hip joint will improve their ability to analyze human movement and develop sophisticated exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions. Further, this course is essential knowledge for future courses discussing injury prevention and physical rehabilitation/physical therapy (e.g. hip pain, hip arthritis, low back pain, lower limb injury, thigh contusion, articular cartilage damage, total hip replacement surgery), the effect the hip joint has on the lower limb and lumbopelvic hip complex alignment (e.g. the relationship between excessive hip flexion and lumbar extension, and hip muscle specific techniques for enhancing sports performance (e.g. lower body (leg) stability, strength, hypertrophy, agility, and power).

Pre-approved credits for:

Pre-approved for Continuing Education Credits for:

This Course Includes:

  • AI Tutor
  • Study Guide
  • Text and Illustrations
  • Audio Voice-over
  • Technique Videos
  • Practice Exam
  • Pre-approved Final Exam

Brookbush Institute's most recommended techniques for the Hip Joint (see videos below):

The acetabulum and femur connecting to form the hip joint
Caption: The acetabulum and femur connecting to form the hip joint

Course Study Guide: Hip Joint Anatomy (Pelvifemoral Joint)

Introduction to the Hip (Pelvifemoral) Joint

Hip Joint Palpation

Hip Connective Tissues: Capsule, Ligaments, and Labrum
2 Sub Sections

Hip Nerves

Hip Joint Actions
3 Sub Sections

Postural Dysfunction and the Hip Joint
3 Sub Sections

Videos
3 Sub Sections

Bibliography

  1. Donald A. Neumann, “Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations of Rehabilitation – 2nd Edition” © 2012 Mosby, Inc.
  2. David B. Jenkins, Hollinshead’s Functional Anatomy of the Limbs and Back: Eighth Edition © 2002 Saunders
  3. Levangie, P. K., Norkin, C. C. & Lewek, M.D (2019). Joint Structure and Function; A Comprehensive Analysis. 6th Edition. Philadelphia: FA. Davis Company
  4. Florence Peterson Kendall, Elizabeth Kendall McCreary, Patricia Geise Provance, Mary McIntyre Rodgers, William Anthony Romani, Muscles: Testing and Function with Posture and Pain: Fifth Edition © 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
  5. Cynthia C. Norkin, D. Joyce White, Measurement of Joint Motion: A Guide to Goniometry – Third Edition. © 2003 by F.A. Davis Company
  6. Phillip Page, Clare Frank, Robert Lardner, Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance: The Janda Approach © 2010 Benchmark Physical Therapy, Inc., Clare C. Frank, and Robert Lardner
  7. Dr. Mike Clark & Scott Lucette, “NASM Essentials of Corrective Exercise Training” © 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
  8. Leon Chaitow, Muscle Energy Techniques: Third Edition, © Pearson Professional Limited 2007
  9. Shirley A Sahrmann, Diagnoses and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes, © 2002 Mosby Inc.
  10. Karel Lewit. Manipulative Therapy: Musuloskeletal Medicine © 2007 Elsevier
  11. Carolyn Richardson, Paul Hodges, Julie Hides. Therapeutic Exercise for Lumbo Pelvic Stabilization – A Motor Control Approach for the Treatment and Prevention of Low Back Pain: 2nd Edition (c) Elsevier Limited, 2004
  12. Tom Myers, Anatomy Trains: Second Edition. © Elsevier Limited 2009
  13. Andrew Biel, Trail Guide to the Human Body: 4th Edition, © 2010
    • Anatomy
  14. Birnbaum K1, Prescher A, Hessler S, Heller KD. The sensory innervation of the hip joint--an anatomical study. Surg Radiol Anat. 1997;19(6):371-5.
  15. Cooper, H., Walters, B., Rodriguez, J. (2015). Anatomy of the Hip Capsule and Pericapsular Structures: A Cadaveric Study. Clinical Anatomy 28: 665-671.
    • Functional Valgus:
  16. Hewett, T. E., Myer, G. D., Ford, K. R., Heidt, R. S., Colosimo, A. J., McLean, S. G., & Succop, P. (2005). Biomechanical measures of neuromuscular control and valgus loading of the knee predict anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in female athletes A prospective study. The American journal of sports medicine, 33(4), 492-501.
  17. Dos Reis, A. C., Correa, J. C. F., Bley, A. S., Rabelo, N. D. D. A., Fukuda, T. Y., & Lucareli, P. R. G. (2015). Kinematic and Kinetic Analysis of the Single-Leg Triple Hop Test in Women With and Without Patellofemoral Pain. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 45(10), 799-807.
  18. Noehren, B., Scholz, J., Davis, I. (2011) The effects of real-time gait retraining on hip kinematics, pain, and function in subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Br Journal of Sports Medicine. 45:691-696
  19. Ireland, ML., Wilson, JD., Ballantyne, BT., Davis, IM. (2003). Hip Strength in Females With and Without Patellofemoral Pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2003. 33: 671-676
  20. Noehren B, Hamill J, Davis I. Prospective Evidence for a Hip Etiology in Patellofemoral Pain. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2013;45(6):1120–1124.
  21. Smith, J. A., Popovich, J. M., & Kulig, K. (2014). The influence of hip strength on lower limb, pelvis, and trunk kinematics and coordination patterns during walking and hopping in healthy women. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, (Early Access), 1-23.
  22. Mauntel, T., Begalle, R., Cram, T., Frank, B., Hirth, C., Blackburn, T., & Padua, D. (2013). The effects of lower extremity muscle activation and passive range of motion on single leg squat performance. Journal Of Strength And Conditioning Research / National Strength & Conditioning Association, 27(7), 1813-1823.
  23. Padua, D. A., Bell, D. R., & Clark, M. A. (2012). Neuromuscular characteristics of individuals displaying excessive medial knee displacement. Journal of athletic training, 47(5), 525
    • Exercise Helps Functional Valgus
  24. Bell, D. R., Oates, D. C., Clark, M. A., & Padua, D. A. (2013). Two-and 3-dimensional knee valgus are reduced after an exercise intervention in young adults with demonstrable valgus during squatting. Journal of athletic training,48(4), 442-449.
  25. Ramskov, D., Barton, C., Nielsen, R. O., & Rasmussen, S. (2015). High Eccentric Hip Abduction Strength Reduces the Risk of Developing Patellofemoral Pain Among Novice Runners Initiating a Self-Structured Running Program: A 1-Year Observational Study. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 45(3), 153-161
  26. Snyder, K. R., Earl, J. E., O’Connor, K. M., & Ebersole, K. T. (2009). Resistance training is accompanied by increases in hip strength and changes in lower extremity biomechanics during running. Clinical Biomechanics, 24(1), 26-34
    • Low Back Pain (LPHCD)
  27. Ellison, JB., Rose, S., Sahrmann, S. (1990). Patterns of Hip Rotation Range of Motion: A Comparison Between Healthy Subjects and Patients with Low Back Pain. Phys Ther 1990. 70: 537-541
  28. Cooper, N., Scavo, K., Strickland, K., Tipayamongkol, N., Nicholson, J., Bewyer, D., Sluka, K. Prevalence of gluteus medius weakness in people with chronic low back pain compared to healthy controls. J Euro Spine. 26 May 2015
    • Loss of Hip Extension:
  29. Lewis CL, Sahrmann. 2005 Timing of muscle activation during prone hip extension. Abstract. J Orhop Sports Phys Ther 35(1): A56.
  30. Tateuchi, H., Taniguchi, M., Mori, N., Ichihashi, N. Balance of hip and trunk muscle activity is associated with increased anterior pelvic tilt during prone hip extension (2013) Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 22 (3). 391-397
    • Regional Interdependence (Other than Functional Valgus):
  31. Souza, T. R., Pinto, R. Z., Trede, R. G., Kirkwood, R. N., & Fonseca, S. T. (2010). Temporal couplings between rearfoot–shank complex and hip joint during walking. Clinical biomechanics, 25(7), 745-748.
  32. Franettovich, S. M., Honeywill, C. O. N. O. R., Wyndow, N., Crossley, K. M., & Creaby, M. W. (2014). Neuromotor control of gluteal muscles in runners with achilles tendinopathy. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 46(3), 594-599.
  33. Barker, PJ., Hapuarachchi, K.S., Ross, J.A., Sambaiew, E., Ranger, T.A., and Briggs, C.A. (2013). Anatomy and biomechanics of gluteus maximus and the thoracolumbar fascia at the sacroiliac joint. Wiley Online Library. DOI: 10.1002/ca.22233
  34. Gibbons, S.G.T. (2004) The anatomy of the deep sacral part of the gluteus maximus and the psoas muscle: A clinical perspective. Proceeds of: The 5th Interdiciplinary World Congress on Low Back Pain. November 7-11, Melbourne, Australia.
  35. Hungerford, B., Gilleard, W., Hodges, P. (2003) Evidence of altered lumbopelvic muscle recruitment in the presence of sacroiliac joint pain. Spine 28(14), 1593-1600
    • Pathology and Muscle Change:
  36. Grimaldi, A, Richardson, C, Stanton, W., Durbridge, G, Donnelly, W. and Hides, J. (2009) The association between degenerative hip joint pathology and size of the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and piriformis muscles. (2009). Manual Therapy 14. 605-610.
  37. Grimaldi, A., Richardson, C., Durbridge, G., Donnelly, W., Darnell, R., Hides, J. (2009). The association between degenerative hip joint pathology and size of the gluteus maximus and tensor fascia latae muscles. Manual Therapy. 14. 611-617
    • Fascia
  38. Carvalhais, VO., Ocarino, Jde M., Araújo, VL., Souza, TR., Silva, PL., Fonseca, ST. (2012). Myofascial force transmission between the latissimus dorsi and gluteus maximus muscles: An in vivo experiment. Journal of Biomechanics 46. 1003-1007
  39. Stecco, A., Gilliar, W., Hill, R., Fullerton, B., Stecco, Carla. (2013). The anatomical and functional relation between gluteus maximus and fascia lata. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies. 17. 512-517
  40. Pfirmman CW, Chung CB, Theumann NH, et al.: Greater Trochanter of the Hip: Attachment of the Abduuctor Mechanism and a Complex of Three Bursae - MR Imaging and MR Bursography in Cadavers and MR Imaging in Asymptomatic Volunteers. Radiology 221:469, 2001
    • Additional Research
  41. Ezoe, M., Naito, M., Inque, T. (2006). The prevalence of acetabular retroversion among various disorders of the hip. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 88A (2). 372-379

© 2025 Brookbush Institute. All rights reserved.

Comments

Guest