31/01/2026
This is in relation to people … my point with the horses is … just because it might “seem” like they are doing movement “correctly” or “well” … are they really ?
Is the dysfunction being created from something else ? Is the dysfunction having an effect of more chaos or is the compensation functional and the horse is actually ok overall …..
😊
Biomechanical Perspective: Hip Adductors & Pelvic Control
This image illustrates the biomechanical versatility of the hip adductor muscle group, showing how the same muscles can generate different movements based on whether the thigh or pelvis is the moving segment. From a biomechanical standpoint, this dual function is essential for efficient gait, postural stability, and load transfer between the lower limbs and the trunk.
When the pelvis is fixed and the femur is free to move, contraction of the hip adductors results in adduction of the right thigh. The line of pull of these muscles passes medial to the hip joint axis, creating an adduction moment that draws the femur toward the body’s midline. This action is especially important during the swing phase of gait, helping control limb trajectory, reduce excessive lateral movement, and improve step accuracy. The adductors also work synergistically with hip flexors and extensors to fine-tune lower-limb motion.
In contrast, when the femur is fixed on the ground (closed kinetic chain), the same adductor muscles act on the pelvis instead of the thigh. Their contraction produces elevation of the right side of the pelvis along with relative depression of the left pelvis. Biomechanically, this frontal-plane control is critical during single-limb stance, preventing unwanted pelvic drop and reducing compensatory trunk lean. This mechanism allows efficient force transmission from the lower limb to the spine.
From a postural and spinal mechanics perspective, effective adductor function contributes to lumbopelvic stability. By assisting in pelvic control, these muscles help regulate forces acting on the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints. Poor adductor strength or timing can lead to pelvic asymmetry, altered gait patterns, increased spinal loading, and compensatory muscle overactivity elsewhere in the kinetic chain.
Clinically, understanding this biomechanical relationship is vital in rehabilitation, sports training, and movement re-education. Weak hip adductors may contribute to pelvic instability, balance deficits, and groin injuries, while excessive dominance can alter lower-limb alignment. Targeted strengthening and neuromuscular control of the adductors can improve gait efficiency, pelvic alignment, and overall functional stability.
