Hip Adductor Muscles

Authors
Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Primary

The Adductor group refers to the 5 Primary adductor muscles:

Secondary

    #| label: tbl-primary-hip-adductor-oian
    #| warning: false
    #| message: false
    #| echo: false
    #| tbl-cap: "Primary hip adductors"

    from pathlib import Path
    import pandas as pd
    from pyprojroot import here
    from IPython.core.display import display, HTML

    # Set the path for the script file
    script_file_path = here("scripts/process_oian_table.py")

    # Check if the script file exists
    if script_file_path.exists():
        import sys
        sys.path.append(str(script_file_path.parent))  # Add the directory of the script to the system path

        from process_oian_table import process_oian_table  # Import the specific function

        # Define the column to filter by and the identifiers to include
        filter_column = 'functional_group_identifier'  # Choose the column you want to filter by
        filter_identifiers = ['primary_hip_adductor']  # Replace with actual identifiers you want to include

        # Call the function to get the HTML table with filtering
        html_table = process_oian_table(filter_column=filter_column, filter_identifiers=filter_identifiers)

        if html_table:
            # Render the HTML table for display
            display(HTML(html_table))  # Use display to render the HTML properly
    else:
        print("Script file does not exist. Please check the path.")
/var/folders/1l/3yjsq4vn4q92b8_bq89ptr800000gn/T/ipykernel_41610/1784269217.py:10: DeprecationWarning:

Importing display from IPython.core.display is deprecated since IPython 7.14, please import from IPython.display
Muscle Origin Insertion Innervation Action
Adductor brevis Inferior pubic ramus Linea aspera Obturator n.
L2 - L3		 Hip: Adduction, Flexion, Extension
Pelvis: Frontal stabilization, Sagittal stabilization
Adductor Longus Superior pubis ramus
Anterior side of Pubic Symphysis		 Linea aspera Obturator n.
L2 - L4		 Hip: Adduction, Flexion, Extension
Pelvis: Frontal plane stabilization, Sagittal plane stabilization
Adductor Magnus Inferior pubic ramus
Ischial ramus
Ischial tuberosity		 Medial lip of Linea aspera
Adductor tubercle		 Obturator n.
Tibial n.
L2 - L4		 Hip: Adduction, Flexion, Extension, IR
Pelvis: Frontal stabilization, Sagittal stabilization
Gracilis Inferior pubic ramus Pes anserine Obturator n.
L2 - L3		 Hip: Adduction, Flexion
Knee: Flexion, IR
Pectineus Pecten pubis Pectineal line
Proximal linea aspera		 Femoral n.
Obturator n.
L2 - L3		 Hip: ER, Adduction, *slight* Flexion
Pelvis: Frontal plane stabilization, Sagittal plane stabilization		 
    #| label: tbl-secondary-hip-adductor-oian
    #| warning: false
    #| message: false
    #| echo: false
    #| tbl-cap: "Secondary hip adductors"

    from pathlib import Path
    import pandas as pd
    from pyprojroot import here
    from IPython.core.display import display, HTML

    # Set the path for the script file
    script_file_path = here("scripts/process_oian_table.py")

    # Check if the script file exists
    if script_file_path.exists():
        import sys
        sys.path.append(str(script_file_path.parent))  # Add the directory of the script to the system path

        from process_oian_table import process_oian_table  # Import the specific function

        # Define the column to filter by and the identifiers to include
        filter_column = 'functional_group_identifier'  # Choose the column you want to filter by
        filter_identifiers = ['secondary_hip_adductor']  # Replace with actual identifiers you want to include

        # Call the function to get the HTML table with filtering
        html_table = process_oian_table(filter_column=filter_column, filter_identifiers=filter_identifiers)

        if html_table:
            # Render the HTML table for display
            display(HTML(html_table))  # Use display to render the HTML properly
    else:
        print("Script file does not exist. Please check the path.")
/var/folders/1l/3yjsq4vn4q92b8_bq89ptr800000gn/T/ipykernel_41610/186737318.py:10: DeprecationWarning:

Importing display from IPython.core.display is deprecated since IPython 7.14, please import from IPython.display
Muscle Origin Insertion Innervation Action
Biceps femoris long head Ischial tuberosity
Sacrotuberous lig.
(Common head with semitendinosus)		 Fibular head Tibial n.
L5 - S2		 Hip: Extension
Knee: Flexion, ER
Pelvis: Sagittal stabilization
Biceps femoris short head Lateral lip of Linea aspera Fibular head Common Fibular n.
L5 - S2		 Knee: Flexion, ER
Gluteus Maximus Sacrum (dorsal surface, lateral part)
Ilium (gluteal surface, posterior part)
Thoracolumbar fascia
sacrotuberous lig.		 IT Band
Gluteal tuberosity		 Inferior gluteal n.
L5 - S2		 Entire mm.: Extension, ER (when <60° HF)
Upper fibers: Abduction, IR (when &gt60° HF)
Lower fibers: Adduction
Obturator externus Outer surface of Obturator membrane
Adjacent bony boundaries		 Trochanteric Fossa Obturator n.
L3 - L4		 Hip: Adduction, ER
Pelvis: Sagittal Stabilization
Quadratus femoris Lateral border of Ischial tuberosity Intertrochanteric crest Nerve to Quadratus femoris
L5 - S1		 Hip: ER
Semimembranosus Ischial tuberosity Medial tibial condyle
Oblique popliteal lig.
Popliteus fascia		 Tibial n.
L5 - S2		 Hip: Extension
Knee: Flexion, IR
Pelvis: Sagittal stabilization
Semitendinosus Ischial tuberosity
Sacrotuberous lig.
(common head with biceps femoris long head)		 Pes anserine Tibial n.
L5 - S2		 Hip: Extension
Knee: Flexion, IR
Pelvis: Sagittal stabilization

Anatomical Layers

Anterior view

When viewed anteriorly, we can break down the primary adductor group into 3 layers:

  1. Anterior Superficial (Most anterior): Pectineus and adductor longus
    1. The gracilis is also superficial, but lies more medial than the pectineus and adductor longus
  2. Anterior Intermediate: Adductor brevis
  3. Anterior Deep (Most posterior): Adductor magnus
Tip

Due to the Adductor magnus’ broad shape and posterior location, it is called the “floor of the adductors”.

Foundational Exercises

Hip Adduction / Wall Assist / Hand Resist

“Using a wall to assist in performing hand resistant hip adduction is not a true adduction movement. The adduction is coming from flexion + abduction + rotation position into flexion/adduction/rotation AROM. The goal is to activate hip adduction to release muscle guarding into greater pROM hip abduction range”.

Setup

The setup is similar to the wall sit foundational exercise but instead of a “V” position of the lower extremity, we employ the “butterfly” position.

  • Sit at the crease of the wall and the floor
  • Roll your hips forward (Anterior pelvic tilt) in order to push your glutes as far into the crease as possible
  • Activate your abdominals by drawing your naval towards the wall without losing your hip position
  • Retract and depress your shoulders
  • Look forward (chin tuck) and bring your head backwards (retract) to hold it against the wall
  • Bend both knees and externally rotate the hips so that the plantar feet are in contact with eachother at midline.
  • Place both hands on the medial surface of each knee
  • Apply pressure to create tension on the hip adductors and feel for feedback

References

1.
Biel A. Trail Guide to the Body: A Hands-on Guide to Locating Muscles, Bones, and More. 6th ed. Books of Discovery; 2019.
2.
Neumann DA, Kelly ER, Kiefer CL, Martens K, Grosz CM. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.
3.
Jones B. B Project Foundations. b Project; 2025.

Citation

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