The piriformis primarily acts as which hip motion?

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Multiple Choice

The piriformis primarily acts as which hip motion?

The main idea here is how the piriformis moves the thigh relative to the pelvis. Its fibers run from the anterior surface of the sacrum to the greater trochanter, so when it shortens it pulls the femur to rotate outward. In a neutral or extended hip, that pull turns the thigh externally, making it an external rotator. When the hip is flexed, its line of pull can shift to assist with abduction, but that is secondary. So the best answer is that the piriformis primarily acts as an external rotator of the hip.

The main idea here is how the piriformis moves the thigh relative to the pelvis. Its fibers run from the anterior surface of the sacrum to the greater trochanter, so when it shortens it pulls the femur to rotate outward. In a neutral or extended hip, that pull turns the thigh externally, making it an external rotator. When the hip is flexed, its line of pull can shift to assist with abduction, but that is secondary. So the best answer is that the piriformis primarily acts as an external rotator of the hip.

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