Clinical Pearl 2: Intro to Joint movement & Muscle Function - To Bear Weight or Not Bear Weight? That is the Question!
If you read through the first clinical pearl, you now have a basic understanding of hip anatomy. To more fully understand your particular issue or pain, you’ll need to appreciate how the hip functions and relates to other joints. The ball and socket nature of the hip can be complex, as this allows the joint to move in all directions versus the knee, which primarily flexes and extends. There are three planes of movement in the body: front to back, side to side, and rotation. The hip is capable of moving in all three planes respectively or in combination. The ability to move in all ranges necessitates additional ability to control and stabilize in a more diverse manner too. (OR--an increase in mobility requires an increased need for control and stabilization.) In addition, motion can be performed with or without the weight of your body. Clear as mud, right?
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF JOINTS AND MUSCLES:
Let’s discuss how anatomy and movement are related. An example of non-weight bearing motion through the three planes is when you’re standing and you kick one leg forward, move it out to the side or twist your entire leg as one unit. Alternatively, a weight bearing example of similar motions involves standing on one leg tipping your torso forward, to the side or twisting or pivoting over the weight bearing hip. The manner in which the head of the femur moves within the acetabulum is similar between weight and non-weight bearing activity. The major difference lies in the manner in which different muscles now engage to create the motion. For example, standing and actively kicking your leg forward, the hip flexors, or muscles in the front of the hip joint, are the prime movers. If you’re standing on one leg and tip your torso forward in a weight bearing manner, then your back muscles, gluteals and hamstrings generate and control this motion, while numerous other muscles contribute to balance and stability. With physical activities, it is rare for movement to be isolated to one plane. Smooth movement requires many muscles to work in synergy with one another. A breakdown in this synergy contributes to dysfunctional movement patterns, and can be caused by, or can contribute to pain.
If you read through the first clinical pearl, you now have a basic understanding of hip anatomy. To more fully understand your particular issue or pain, you’ll need to appreciate how the hip functions and relates to other joints. The ball and socket nature of the hip can be complex, as this allows the joint to move in all directions versus the knee, which primarily flexes and extends. There are three planes of movement in the body: front to back, side to side, and rotation. The hip is capable of moving in all three planes respectively or in combination. The ability to move in all ranges necessitates additional ability to control and stabilize in a more diverse manner too. (OR--an increase in mobility requires an increased need for control and stabilization.) In addition, motion can be performed with or without the weight of your body. Clear as mud, right?
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF JOINTS AND MUSCLES:
Let’s discuss how anatomy and movement are related. An example of non-weight bearing motion through the three planes is when you’re standing and you kick one leg forward, move it out to the side or twist your entire leg as one unit. Alternatively, a weight bearing example of similar motions involves standing on one leg tipping your torso forward, to the side or twisting or pivoting over the weight bearing hip. The manner in which the head of the femur moves within the acetabulum is similar between weight and non-weight bearing activity. The major difference lies in the manner in which different muscles now engage to create the motion. For example, standing and actively kicking your leg forward, the hip flexors, or muscles in the front of the hip joint, are the prime movers. If you’re standing on one leg and tip your torso forward in a weight bearing manner, then your back muscles, gluteals and hamstrings generate and control this motion, while numerous other muscles contribute to balance and stability. With physical activities, it is rare for movement to be isolated to one plane. Smooth movement requires many muscles to work in synergy with one another. A breakdown in this synergy contributes to dysfunctional movement patterns, and can be caused by, or can contribute to pain.
With this in mind, you may be able to work strength without bearing weight and continue to be challenged while reducing pain. Transferring this kind of strength to more functional weight bearing activities can be challenging. If hip musculature does not, or cannot, optimally engage, due to injury, overuse, or fatigue, then these insufficiencies can contribute to abnormal strains elsewhere.
INJURY AND MOVEMENT:
It is also important to consider anatomical health or condition when assessing variation in muscle engagement related to weight or non-weight bearing positions. An injury to any specific muscles, or within the joint, can influence how the body moves. As your body senses something “off, painful or wrong”, it will alter how it moves to unload and avoid the afflicted area. In the example above, when kicking your leg forward, a rotation may occur to lessen discomfort. Or, when standing and moving your torso forward, you may tip your body to the side to help unload an area perceived to have an issue. These compensatory movements can contribute to strains elsewhere, adding up over time. Many times we are completely unaware of these subtle changes. This is why hip mechanics and muscle function needs to be taken into consideration when you experience injuries in your lower body.
In Clinical Pearl #3, this relation of the hip to other areas of the body will be discussed.
INJURY AND MOVEMENT:
It is also important to consider anatomical health or condition when assessing variation in muscle engagement related to weight or non-weight bearing positions. An injury to any specific muscles, or within the joint, can influence how the body moves. As your body senses something “off, painful or wrong”, it will alter how it moves to unload and avoid the afflicted area. In the example above, when kicking your leg forward, a rotation may occur to lessen discomfort. Or, when standing and moving your torso forward, you may tip your body to the side to help unload an area perceived to have an issue. These compensatory movements can contribute to strains elsewhere, adding up over time. Many times we are completely unaware of these subtle changes. This is why hip mechanics and muscle function needs to be taken into consideration when you experience injuries in your lower body.
In Clinical Pearl #3, this relation of the hip to other areas of the body will be discussed.