Biomechanics of the hip: forces exerted during walking

Since the work of Pauwels, the forces exerted on the coxofemoral joint during walking have been studied either in different spatial planes (frontal, sagittal and horizontal) or by three-dimensional spatial analysis. Starting from the findings of our own studies, our aim was to compare the two methods of analysis (two-dimensional and three-dimensional) in order to provide a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of each method. In pursuit of this aim, we studied the pressure forces exerted on the coxofemoral joint, using a geometric plane technique following a method similar to that of Pauwels [20], and with a three-dimensional modelling technique using the finite element method. The material, taken from the published literature, was the same in both our studies. The results are expressed in terms of the size and orientation of the pressure force exerted on the coxofemoral joint during the monopodal weightbearing phase of walking. A comparison of these two methods of analysis clearly demonstrates the simplicity of two-dimensional analysis (which must incorporate as a minimum the frontal plane and the sagittal plane) and the richness of the three-dimensional analysis. The latter method, by appropriate manipulation of the information obtained, provides a starting point for computer simulations performed with the aim of testing a biomechanical or therapeutic hypothesis.