Thigh Medial and Lateral Rotation

Medial rotation of the thigh or hip brings the knee and foot medially.

Muscles: gluteus medius and minimus, and the adductors (longus, brevis, magnus).

With the contralateral foot elevated, contraction of the gluteus medius and minimus during walking swings the pelvis anteriorly (by trying to medially rotate the fixed thigh, and thereby rotating the pelvis forward). These muscles do this while stabilizing the hip with their balanced abduction (gluteus medius and minimus) and adduction (adductors longus, brevis, and magnus) force.

Lateral rotation of the thigh or hip moves the knee and foot laterally.

Muscles: gluteus maximus is most powerful, assisted by piriformis, obturator internus and externus, the gemelli, and quadratus femoris.