Shape-informed and MSK-driven FE analysis of hip joint loading between females and males during side-stepping in table tennis

Hip injuries in elite table tennis players were higher in females. Sex-specific hip shape was analysed by Statistical Shape Modelling to elucidate the geometrical factors. Hip contact pressure was evaluated using a shape-informed, motion-analysis-driven musculoskeletal and finite element simulation. Pelvic girdle medial-lateral and internal-external curvature shape variation led to different contact patterns, with males exhibiting commonly loaded superior to anterior femoral contact, and females exhibiting superior to medial femoral contact. Females showed shifts towards the less loaded medial femoral contact regions due to pelvic shape differences that may in part contribute to degenerative mechanisms and higher injuries observed in females.