Weight-Bearing Areas in the Human Hip Joint

A specially designed loading apparatus and dyeing technique have been used to demonstrate the weight-bearing areas in fifty-one normal adult hip joints. 2. Under loads and positions typical of the stance phase of walking the entire articular surface of the acetabulum is involved in weight-bearing. This contact area is reproduced on the femoral head, and its position determined by the attitude of the femur to the acetabulum. 3. With loads typical of the swing phase, the dome of the acetabulum and corresponding areas on the femoral head are not involved in weight-bearing. 4. The results are compared with the conclusions of previous investigators and their possible significance with regard to joint degeneration is discussed.