The hip joint

The hip is a large weight-bearing joint concerned mostly with locomotion.

it helps us move our body weight about so we can do the activities we wish.

We are large, heavy animals and normal hips are important if we are to function well in daily life.

The hip is a large ball and socket joint, allowing a possible large range of movement in many directions.

The socket is a deep depression in the side of the pelvis which faces sideways and downwards. The ball is the spherical head of the thigh bone or femur. The ball and socket fit together to give a strong, stable joint with good movements.

The hip does not need its muscle strength to provide stability even when weight-bearing as the head is locked into the socket by a fibrocartilage lip called the labrum. The angle between the shaft of the femur and the neck which holds the head is usually in the range 120-140 degrees.

Abnormalities of the socket, head or both are common, either at birth or during development, and may predispose people to arthritic change.