Hip Muscles

The muscles and tendons in the hip provide stability and active movement. . The anterior muscles (iliopsoas, rectus fermoris) move the hip forward. The posterior muscles, hamstrings and luteus maximus, move the hip backward. The lateral muscles, gluteus minimus, gluteus medius, and tensor fascia latae, move the hip out to the side or abduct the leg. These muscles also stabilize the hip and pelvis when walking and running.

The muscles of the inner thigh, or adductors, function to bring the hip and leg toward the opposite leg. They are called the adductor magnus and adductor longus. The deeper muscles of the hip, or rotators, function to rotate the hip in and out. The hip rotators include the piriformis, gemellus superior, gemellus inferior, obturator internus, obturator externus, and quadratus femoris.

Common conditions

• hamstring strain

• hamstring tear

• psoas strain

• adductor strain

• muscle tear

• piriformis syndrome