What is the hip?
The hip is the joint where the thigh bone (femur) meets the pelvis bone.
It has two main parts:
- Ball of the end of the femur.
- Pelvic socket.
The hip is a ball and socket joint, this is because it has a ball at the end of the femur that fits inside the socket of the pelvis. This makes the hips very stable and allows for a wide range of motion.
Because of the great weight it has to bear and essential function it performs, the hip has a complex structure. It is composed of:
- Extensive set of bones
- Ligaments
- Vessels
- Muscles
The hip is the joint that joins the upper and lower body.
What is the function of the hip?
The hip is the joint that joins the upper and lower body, and therefore, its correct functioning is essential for our whole body to move correctly.
The hip is designed for both mobility and stability, the hip allows the entire lower extremity three planes of motion, while providing an important function in shock absorption for the lower limb and upper body.
What diseases can affect the hip?
Some of the diseases that can affect the hip are:
- Hip osteoarthritis or coxarthrosis.
- Arthritis of the hip
- Hip fracture
- Perthes disease
- Congenital hip dysplasia
- Epiphysiolysis of the femoral head
- Transient synovitis of the hip
- Spring hip syndrome
- Hip dislocation
- Trochanteritis or trochanteric bursitis
- Hip strain
Treatment of hip problems may include rest, medications, physical therapy, or surgery, including hip replacement.