Biomechanical analysis of selected principles of hip joint protection

This review article discusses the role of the hip abductor muscles in the generation of forces at the hip joint. The biomechanical rationale behind selected clinical principles of hip joint protection for the patient with hip osteoarthritis is discussed. These principles are based primarily on the benefit of reducing the magnitude of hip abductor muscle forces during walking. The specific hip joint protection principles that are analyzed are loss of body weight, walking with an antalgic limp, the use of a cane, proper methods of load carriage, and the reasons for certain orthopedic surgeries. The reduction of these myogenic hip joint forces for the patient with a painful hip and/or hip with arthritis should be considered an important component of the clinical management of the hip.