A patient with a painful hip will usually hold the stick in the contralateral hand. The support provided by the stick reduces the tension in the abductors on the diseased side. The abductor muscles are required to maintain the position of the pelvis while the healthy leg is being lifted.
Much of the pain in the hip is a result of compression; it is estimated that in tilting the pelvis the compressive forces through the hip are 4 times the body weight.
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