Hip, Pelvis and Upper Leg

The hip, pelvis and upper leg is the junction between the trunk/upper body and lower limbs. Normal function in this area is vital for the control, stabilisation and power of the rest of the body.

The hip is described as a ‘ball and socket’ joint and is one of the largest weight-bearing joints in the body. It is composed of the head of the femur (upper thigh bone) which articulates with a socket in the pelvis.

Major nerves run through the hip area. These include the sciatic nerve at the back of the hip and femoral nerve at the front.

The pelvis is a bony ring including the pubic bone at the front, the hip joints in the groin and the sacro-iliac joints either side of the base of the spine.

There are a number of powerful muscle groups in the area which are responsible for maintaining an up right posture, stabilising the trunk and lower body and providing the power required through the lower limbs for locomotion etc. some of these key muscles are gluteus maximus and medius, the hamstrings, the abductors/adductors of the hip, the quadriceps, the iliacus and psoas major, Iliotibial Band and piriformis.