Range of Motion: Hip Abduction

The Hip Abduction Test measures how far the leg can move away from the midline. It is useful for tracking hip mobility, comparing sides and adding context to lateral movement, balance, running and lower-limb testing.

Introduction

A client may feel restricted during lateral lunges, wide-stance squats, skating-style movements or change-of-direction drills. The Hip Abduction Test gives professionals a repeatable way to measure how far the hip moves away from the body’s midline.

The MAT article describes a supine hip abduction test with the smart device placed midway on the femur, stopping before pelvic deviation begins. It notes that active or passive testing may be used if recorded consistently and lists at least 40 degrees as the practical target for abduction.  

Quick Summary

Test name: Hip Abduction Test
Purpose: Assess hip abduction range of motion
What it assesses: Ability to move the leg away from the midline
Equipment: Measurz inclinometer or equivalent inclinometer
Key finding: Hip abduction angle in degrees
Best used with: Hip adduction, hip rotation, lateral lunge, balance and lower-limb strength testing
Key limitation: Pelvic movement can falsely increase the score

What Is the Hip Abduction Test?

The Hip Abduction Test measures movement of the femur away from the midline. The test is usually performed supine with the pelvis controlled.

Why It Is Used

It is used to assess baseline hip mobility, compare sides and add context to lateral movement, change of direction, gait, lower-limb strength and mobility programming.

What It Measures

It measures hip abduction ROM in degrees. It does not measure hip abductor strength, lateral stability, pelvic control, pain source or sport readiness.

Active vs Passive Range of Motion

Active abduction is measured when the client moves the leg away from the midline. Passive abduction may be recorded when the movement professional assists the limb. Active and passive results should be labelled separately.

Who It Is Useful For

Athletes, dancers, gym clients, field sport clients, court sport clients and anyone where lateral hip movement or side comparison is relevant.

Equipment Required

Measurz inclinometer or equivalent inclinometer, treatment table or mat, Measurz app, and notes for side, active/passive method, pain and pelvic compensation.

Step-by-Step Protocol

Position the client supine with the hip neutral. Place the device at the midway point of the femur. Ask the client to abduct the hip away from the midline as far as possible before the pelvis begins to deviate. Pause and save the measurement. If passive testing is used, assist the limb and record that passive ROM was tested.  

Scoring and Interpretation

Record hip abduction in degrees. The MAT source notes a practical target of at least 40 degrees for hip abduction.  

A lower score should be interpreted with pain, pelvic control, hip adduction, hip rotation, strength and functional movement findings.

Normative Data, Benchmarks or Reference Values

Evidence level: Level 2, related or closest available reference values.

Use 40 degrees as a practical MAT reference for this test. Use client baseline, side comparison and progress across sessions for stronger interpretation.

Reliability and Validity

Recent ROM evidence indicates that reliability varies across devices and protocols. For hip ROM, consistent pelvis control and device placement are key because inter-rater reliability can be lower than intra-rater reliability when methods vary.  

Common Errors and Testing Limitations

Common errors include allowing pelvic hiking or rotation, abducting too quickly, moving into pain, inconsistent device alignment and interpreting ROM as strength.

Practical Applications

Use this test to monitor hip abduction mobility, compare sides and add context to lateral lunge, skating, agility, balance and hip strength assessments.

How to Record This in Measurz

Record side, abduction angle, active/passive ROM, pain score, symptom location, pelvic movement, device placement, comparison side and related lower-limb findings.

Related Tests or Internal Linking Suggestions

Hip Adduction Test
Supine Hip Internal Rotation Test
Supine Hip External Rotation Test
Y-Balance Test
Lateral Lunge Assessment
Side Hop Test

FAQs

What does the Hip Abduction Test measure?

It measures how far the leg moves away from the body’s midline.

What is a practical hip abduction reference?

The MAT article lists at least 40 degrees as a practical target for this test.  

Does hip abduction ROM measure hip abductor strength?

No. ROM and strength should be assessed separately.

Why stop before pelvic movement?

Pelvic movement can make the hip ROM score look larger than the true isolated movement.

Key Takeaways

The Hip Abduction Test measures lateral hip ROM.
Pelvic control is essential.
Record active or passive ROM.
Use side comparison and progress tracking.
Interpret with strength and functional tests.

References

Charlton, P. C., et al. (2022). Clinical reliability and usability of smartphone goniometers for hip range of motion measurement. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 34(6), 424–431.

Kiatkulanusorn, S., et al. (2023). Analysis of the concurrent validity and reliability of five common clinical goniometric devices. Scientific Reports, 13, 20915.

Fraeulin, L., et al. (2020). Intra- and inter-rater reliability of joint range of motion tests using tape measure, digital inclinometer and inertial motion capturing. PLOS ONE, 15(12), e0243646.