Hip Anatomy of Bones, Labrum & Muscles

By Ehren Allen, Certified Manual Therapist/Physical Therapist

Hip Joint Anatomy

A hip is made up where the thigh bone meets the pelvis to form a ball-and-socket joint.  The hip is very important as it connects the lower body with the pelvis.

The hip joint consists of two main parts:

1) Femoral head –

a ball-shaped piece of bone located at the top of your thigh bone, or femur

2) Acetabulum –

a socket in your pelvis into which the femoral head fits

Bands of tissue, called ligaments, connect the ball to the socket, stabilizing the joint and forming the joint capsule. The synovium is a thin membrane that lines to joint capsule. This membrane produces a viscous fluid to lubricate the joint. Fluid-filled sacs called bursae provide cushioning where there is friction between muscle, tendons and bones.
Large muscles surround and support the joint and enable movement.  To learn more about the Anatomy of the Hip, please watch this VIDEO.

The Muscles of the Hip Are:

• Gluteal muscles – muscles of the buttocks, located on the back of the hip
• Adductor muscles – muscles of the inner thigh, which pull the leg inward
• Iliopsoas muscle – a muscle that begins in the lower back and connects to the upper femur
• Quadriceps – four muscles on the front of the thigh that run from the hip to the knee
• Hamstrings – muscles on the back of the thigh, which run from the waistline to just below the knee.

Labrum Tears in the Hip

The labrum of the hip can be injured in many different ways.  Often this occurs in contact sports or in auto accidents.  Sometimes, these injuries are from wear and tear on the hip joint.  With advancements in surgical techniques, the labrum of the hip can be repaired with surgery.

Are you experiencing lasting hip pain? Read up on different stretching techniques designed to reduce your pain.

Several Approaches To Treating Hip Pain With JOI Physical Therapy

Despite hip pain being a common complaint amongst all people, there are a few easy forms of physical therapy which can help. Exercises for core strength and stability are used to treat and commonly prevent this pain. Ergonomic education is instrumental in treating hip pain, as the source of most of the pain comes from how people sit and/or stand for long periods of time. Lastly and perhaps most importantly is keeping up with your health. Weight loss and a healthy BMI are always recommended in the treatment of hip pain.

Please watch these videos from JOI Rehab:

• Level 1 Exercises
• Level 2 Exercises
• Level 3 Exercises
• Level 4 Exercises

To schedule an appointment with an Orthopaedic Hip Specialist, please call JOI-2000, schedule online, or click below.

• To schedule a new patient or follow up patient appointment with your MD, please call (904)JOI-2000
• Finally, to schedule an appointment for physical or occupational therapy, call 904-858-7045 or call any of the 13 area JOI Rehab Centers.
• Related Article: Best Core Stabilization Exercises and Muscles of the Hip.

By: Ehren Allen, Certified Manual Therapist/Physical Therapist

JOI and JOI Rehab

JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.