Hip Abductors

The hip abductors are the muscles behind the hip which pull the thigh outwards. They consist of two main muscles, the gluteus medius and the smaller gluteus minimus, both of which lie under the main bulk of gluteus maximus (hip extensor) - fleshy part of the buttock. The abductors are attached over the outer side of the hip-bone and spread out in a fan shape over the bone. They narrow down into two tendons which are fixed onto the top of the greater trochanter (top of femur), the jutting bone at the outer side of the hip. Apart from moving the leg outwards to the side the abductors have a more complex stabilising function. While standing on one leg the abductors may be working to create hip movement but they also hold your pelvis level by working on the other side pulling the hip downwards.