An elderly woman, with extensive osteoarthritis of her left hip joint, entered the hospital to have a total hip joint replacement (prosthesis implantation)

After surgery, her left hip had to be maintained in abduction to prevent dislocation of the prosthesis while healing was occurring. An abduction pillow was used to keep the legs apart, especially when lying on her side. Name the abductor muscles and describe the action of each that need to be strengthened in order to help maintain abduction.
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Gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. These muscles originate on the pelvis; they act as major extensors of the thigh and abduct and rotate the thigh as well. The tensor fascia lata also abducts the thigh.

Anatomy & Physiology

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