Contralateral Pelvic Drop

Overview

When you walk or run, your hip muscles work to keep your body steady. If these muscles are weak, one side of your hips can drop down when you lift your leg to take a step. This is called a "hip drop". It's important because it can lead to pain or injuries in your legs or back. To prevent this, do exercises that make your hip muscles stronger to keep your hips level and your body balanced when you run.​

Contralateral Hip Drop: Importance and Assessment

Contralateral hip drop, also known as Trendelenburg gait or contralateral pelvic drop (CPD), refers to the downward tilt of the pelvis on the side opposite to the weight-bearing leg during the stance phase of running. This biomechanical issue typically indicates weakness in the hip abductor muscles, primarily the gluteus medius, which are crucial for maintaining pelvic stability during single-leg activities such as running.

Why Measure Contralateral Hip Drop?

Assessing contralateral hip drop is vital because excessive pelvic drop significantly increases the risk of running injuries. Approximately 40% of running-related injuries are associated with excessive contralateral pelvic drop. Common injuries linked to CPD include:

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)

• Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)

• Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS, or shin splints)

• Achilles Tendinopathy

Each additional 1% increase in hip drop corresponds to roughly an 80% increased risk of sustaining a running injury. To minimize injury risks, it is recommended that men maintain a hip drop of 5% or less, while women should maintain a hip drop of 7% or less.

Preventing Excessive Hip Drop

Intervention strategies include targeted strengthening of the hip abductor muscles, neuromuscular training, and biomechanical running analysis to detect and correct excessive hip drop early.

References

1. Bramah C., Preece S.J., Gill N., Herrington L., Is There a Pathological Gait Associated With Common Soft Tissue Running Injuries? Am J Sports Med. 2018 Oct;46(12):3023-3031. doi: 10.1177/0363546518793657

2. Powers, C. M. (2010). The influence of abnormal hip mechanics on knee injury: a biomechanical perspective. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 40(2), 42-51. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2010.3337