By Doug Gray, FAFS, FMR, NG360° GPS, CAFS, 3DMAPS
How important is internal rotation of the hip? Considering how the hip goes through internal rotation while walking / running (both the front hip and the back hip go through internal rotation), it clearly isn’t that important … it is very important! 3DMAPS (3D Movement Analysis & Performance System) would agree with this statement, as well as saying that all motions of the body’s primary complexes are very important.
Back to the internal rotation of the hip … how does this “relative motion” (resultant motion of joint due to adjacent bones) transpire? At any joint, relative motion occurs one (1) of five (5) ways. Using the left hip as the primary example, this is how internal rotation can occur:
- Distal femur rotating internally on fixed, proximal pelvis.
- Proximal pelvis rotating to the left on fixed, distal femur.
- Distal femur rotating internally on proximal pelvis rotating to the left.
- Distal femur rotating internally faster than proximal pelvis rotating to the right.
- Proximal pelvis rotating to the left faster than distal femur rotating externally.
The majority of the time – in life, in function – it is the latter two (2) scenarios that facilitate internal rotation of the hip. In fact, option number four (4) describes the front hip in walking / running and option number five (5) describes the back hip in walking / running.
Now that the mental juices are flowing, allow me to pose these questions:
- Do you assess the all-important motions of the hip?
- Specifically, how do you assess internal rotation of the hip?
- How do you assess other motions of the body’s primary complexes in all three (3) planes of motion?
- Do the assessments reflect everyday movements for the individual being assessed?
- Does the individual being assessed feel successful in the assessment?
- Based on the assessment’s findings, do your next steps (movements) look like the assessment or drastically different?
Traditionally speaking, internal rotation of the hip is assessed in ways that may not parallel the true function of the hip. For example, the hip primarily goes through internal rotation when the foot is on the ground, in upright function. Therefore, sitting on the ground in a position that internally rotates the hip may not be the best gauge for assessing the hip. Perhaps laying on a table in a prone position (with both knees flexed to 90 degrees) and moving one’s feet outward to facilitate internal rotation of the hips may not be the best gauge for assessing the hip. Perhaps laying on a table in a supine position with the knee bent and having a practitioner pull the foot outward to facilitate internal rotation of the hips may not be the best gauge for assessing the hip.
For global human function to be assessed, 3DMAPS identifies how best to assess the 11 Primary Complexes of the body in all three (3) planes of motion (66 motions of the body) in just six (6) succinct movements. This allows the mobility / flexibility to be assessed by using lunges with bilateral hand swings. By tweaking these movements, the stability / strength is assessed by using single leg balance foot reaches with bilateral hand swings. No movement screen or assessment system accomplishes this feat, except for 3DMAPS.
3DMAPS empowers the practitioner with an analysis that is truly functional. The context of the previous statement stems from science.
Science says that the environment should be natural for an analysis – a movement – to be functional. Science says that gravity and ground reaction force need to be used for it to be functional. Science says that mass and momentum must be leveraged for it to be functional. Science says that motion must be displayed three-dimensionally for it to be functional. Science says that the body must operate as a Chain Reaction® for it to be functional. Science says that proprioceptors need to be facilitated for it to be functional. Science says that muscles need to be reactors for it to be functional. Science says that joints must be integrated for it to be functional. Science says that the task should trigger a subconscious reaction for it to be functional. Science says that the specificity should involve a change of direction (Transformation Zone) for it to be functional. Science says that mobility and stability should be combined for it to be functional.
What does science say about existing analyses / assessments? Compare the answers to 3DMAPS and you will see the difference. More importantly, your patients / clients will feel the difference!
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