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Carry it on the bad side!
V Tan1, M J Klotz, A S Greenwald
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
American Journal of Orthopedics (Belle Mead, N.J.)
|October 31, 1998
Summary
Carrying objects in the contralateral hand significantly increases hip joint forces in patients with hip disease. Carrying loads in the ipsilateral hand reduces these forces, offering a beneficial strategy for hip joint load management.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Biomechanics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Patients with hip disease often carry objects during ambulation.
- Guidance on optimal hand use for load carriage is lacking.
- Understanding hip joint forces is crucial for managing hip conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To mathematically determine hip joint forces when loads are carried in the ipsilateral versus contralateral hand.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for load carriage in patients with hip disease.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a free-body diagram analysis.
- Modeled single-leg supported stance.
- Calculated resultant hip forces for different load carriage scenarios.
Main Results:
- Carrying a load in the contralateral hand substantially increased hip joint forces.
- Carrying a load in the ipsilateral hand resulted in lower hip joint forces compared to no load.
- Hip forces were significantly greater when the load was carried contralaterally.
Conclusions:
- Patients with hip disease should carry objects in the ipsilateral hand to minimize hip joint forces.
- Ipsilateral load carriage offers a biomechanically advantageous strategy for hip joint protection.
- Further research should explore clinical applications of these findings.