How to measure hip range of motion
Clinical guide · Updated July 2026
To measure hip flexion with a goniometer, position the patient supine, center the fulcrum over the greater trochanter, align the stationary arm with the lateral midline of the trunk and the moving arm with the lateral midline of the femur toward the lateral epicondyle, then bring the thigh toward the chest and read the angle. Normal hip ROM is about 120° flexion, 45° abduction, and 45° external rotation (AAOS). The steps, landmarks, and reliability evidence are below.
Normal hip range of motion
| Movement | Normal ROM |
|---|---|
| Flexion | 120° |
| Extension | 30° |
| Abduction | 45° |
| Adduction | 30° |
| External rotation | 45° |
| Internal rotation | 45° |
See the full normal range of motion chart for every joint. The Goniometer app guides hip flexion and external rotation with animated placement.
What you need
- A universal goniometer, digital goniometer, or a smartphone goniometer app.
- A firm surface where the patient can lie supine with the leg free to move.
- Reference to the landmarks: the greater trochanter, the lateral midline of the femur (toward the lateral epicondyle), and the lateral midline of the trunk.
How to measure hip flexion, step by step
- Position the patient. Supine with the legs extended and relaxed — this is the 0° starting position.
- Find the landmarks. Locate the greater trochanter, the lateral midline of the femur toward the lateral epicondyle, and the lateral midline of the trunk.
- Center the fulcrum. Place the goniometer axis over the greater trochanter.
- Align the arms. Line the stationary arm along the lateral trunk and the moving arm along the lateral midline of the femur.
- Move to end range. Bring the thigh toward the chest until it stops, allowing the knee to bend, and keep the arms tracking the landmarks.
- Read and record. Read the angle at end range and note the side (L/R) and patient position.
Hip external rotation
Flex the hip and knee to 90° and swing the shin inward so the foot moves away from the midline; normal is about 45°. In the app this uses the phone’s attitude reference with the shin as the pointer. Hip abduction (about 45°) and internal rotation (about 45°) are measured similarly.
Getting a reliable measurement
Manual hip goniometry is most reliable when the same examiner measures the same way each time. Nussbaumer and colleagues found manual goniometers valid and reliable for passive hip range of motion on a test-retest (intra-rater) basis when compared against an electromagnetic tracking system. Four habits keep readings repeatable:
- Standardize the position. Measure supine, and stabilize the pelvis so it does not tilt or rotate to add apparent motion.
- Palpate the landmarks each time rather than eyeballing them — landmarking is the biggest source of variation.
- Read at a stable end range, not mid-motion, and to the whole degree.
- Use one examiner for progress tracking. Compare a patient’s hip to their own earlier measurement, taken the same way.
Measuring hip ROM with an iPhone
A smartphone goniometer app replaces the two-armed goniometer with the phone’s gravity-referenced motion sensor: lay the phone along the thigh, set zero, and the change in tilt as the hip flexes is the joint angle. Peer-reviewed research finds smartphone measurement valid and reliable for hip ROM, comparable to a universal goniometer — see the accuracy evidence. A 2022 study reported high intra-rater reliability (ICC above 0.72) for smartphone hip goniometry, again strongest with a single examiner (Takeda & Furukawa).
Measure the hip on your iPhone. Goniometer shows animated placement for hip flexion and external rotation, with the AAOS normal range beside every reading — free to measure. Download Goniometer on the App Store.
Frequently asked questions
What is normal hip range of motion?
About 120° flexion, 30° extension, 45° abduction, 30° adduction, and 45° of internal and external rotation, per AAOS.
How do you measure hip flexion with a goniometer?
With the patient supine, center the fulcrum over the greater trochanter, align the stationary arm with the lateral trunk and the moving arm with the lateral femur, bring the thigh toward the chest, and read the angle.
What landmarks are used to measure the hip?
The greater trochanter (axis), the lateral midline of the femur toward the lateral epicondyle (moving arm), and the lateral midline of the trunk (stationary arm).
How reliable is hip goniometry?
Reliable with one examiner: Nussbaumer et al. found manual goniometers valid and reliable for passive hip ROM on a test-retest basis. Consistent technique and pelvic stabilization matter most.
Can you measure hip range of motion with a phone?
Yes — a smartphone goniometer app reads the phone’s motion sensor and has shown validity and reliability comparable to a universal goniometer in peer-reviewed research.
References
- Norkin CC, White DJ. Measurement of Joint Motion: A Guide to Goniometry. 5th ed. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis; 2016.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Joint Motion: Method of Measuring and Recording. Chicago: AAOS. Normative range-of-motion reference values, as used throughout the Goniometer app.
- Nussbaumer S, Leunig M, Glatthorn JF, et al. Validity and test-retest reliability of manual goniometers for measuring passive hip range of motion in femoroacetabular impingement patients. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2010;11:194. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-194
- Takeda Y, Furukawa K. Clinical reliability and usability of smartphone goniometers for hip range of motion measurement. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2022;34(6):433–439. doi:10.1589/jpts.34.433
- Keogh JWL, Cox A, Anderson S, et al. Reliability and validity of clinically accessible smartphone applications to measure joint range of motion: A systematic review. PLOS ONE. 2019;14(5):e0215806. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0215806
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Goniometer is an educational and reference tool. It is not a medical device and is not intended for diagnosis or treatment decisions.