Definition of muted hip function

• A. The pelvis chases the femur instead of the spine
• B. The knees track the toes
• C. The pelvis rotates excessively to keep the spine upright
• D. The back stays upright

Answer: (A)

Muted hip function means the hips aren’t driving the movement or stabilizing the torso effectively. When the hips aren’t contributing, the movement gets dictated by the leg itself, and the pelvis ends up following the femur’s path rather than guiding the spine. In other words, the pelvis chases the femur instead of allowing the spine to stay aligned and the trunk to remain stable. This lack of hip contribution leads to less control of the torso and a compensatory pattern elsewhere.

Knee tracking toes describes knee alignment, which isn’t about hip contribution. Pelvis rotating excessively to keep the spine upright describes a compensatory strategy to maintain upright posture, but it’s not the definition of muted hip function. The back staying upright is more about overall posture, not specifically about the hip’s drive.