The kinematics of hip joints: normal functioning.

This paper describes the use of an electrogoniometer to measure angular movements of the hip joints of a large number of 'normal' people. The object of the study was to establish a statistically significant data base for the movements of the hip joints during functional activities against which the movements of pathological hips could be compared. The measurement and the analysis used to establish 'normality' in males and females over a wide age range are introduced. The data are examined for the existence of any sex or age related gait variations, and the conclusion is that there are only minor variations. Comparison with pathological hips will be reported later.