CafeDoor

NORMAL ANATOMY

The upper femur (thigh bone) takes a bend (120 degrees) to seat the ball at the top of the femur (“femoral head”) into the pelvic cup (“acetabulum”). The short angled upper segment supporting the femoral head is the femoral “neck” (the 120 degree part). Above we, can't see the ball (femoral head) hiding in the acetabulum nor the neck which is wearing a turtle neck hip capsule which attaches firmly around the edge of the cup to the femur. The capsule is designed to enhance head stability in the cup as the cup is normally somewhat shallow. The blue colored hip capsule area is also called the iliofemoral ligament. It becomes quite tight as the hip extends. It is crazy strong. If it is too short then the hip cannot fully extend. Trying to force it (exercise??) might fracture the femur or batter the acetabulum wall out. Hamstring “stretching” can damage the socket instead of achieving

hamstring length. In CP, the damage is more to the back of the socket. Pulling the tibia straight might stretch the hamstring. It might pile-drive the back of the socket to flat if the leg is not abducted when the 'stretch' is performed. Knees wide apart spares the socket's weakest spot.