In a positive Trendelenburg's sign, what side does the hip dip?

• A. Contralateral to the weak muscle
• B. Ipsi-lateral to the weak muscle
• C. Always the right side
• D. Always the left side

Answer: (A)

In a positive Trendelenburg's sign, the hip dips on the contralateral side to the weak muscle. This sign is indicative of an issue with the gluteus medius muscle, which is primarily responsible for hip stabilization during gait. When this muscle is weak or injured on one side, it cannot support the pelvis properly. As a result, when a person stands on the leg of the affected side, the opposite side of the pelvis will drop, causing a dip in that hip. Therefore, the hip drop occurs on the side opposite to where the muscle weakness is present. This is crucial in assessing hip and pelvic stability during physical examinations.