The First Publication on Prevention

In our opinion, the first publication on the topic of preventing of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury is the abstract of the report: “Arkhipov-Baltiysky SV. On increasing the safety of jumping from heights. Abstracts of reports of the All-Russian Conference ... “Trauma in peacetime and war” (Anapa, 2005).” This text not only holds historical significance but remains relevant for sports, armed forces, circus performers, and other extreme activities.

The online version of «О безопасности прыжков с высоты» (On the Safety of High-Altitude Jumps) was published in 2005 on the website «Морфомеханика» www.enet.ru/~archipov/ (no longer supported, archived copy), specifically in the section «Архив публикация автора» (Archive publications of the author).

Translation of the original text from Russian:

On Increasing the Safety of Jumping from Heights

S.V. Arkhipov-Baltiysky

In modern military operations and counter-terrorism activities, personnel of the armed forces and special units often have to jump from high altitudes or with a parachute. Increasing their safety will make it possible to effectively use the physical potential of personnel and maintain their combat effectiveness for a long time.

To identify factors that may lead to damage to the hip joint and disrupt its normal functioning during jumps, we conducted experimental studies on a planar model of the hip joint. Contours of the pelvis and the proximal part of the femur were copied onto rigid cardboard and then separately cut out. The centers of the acetabulum and femoral head images were aligned and fixed with a needle. The contour of the acetabular fossa and the bottom of the femoral head fossa were connected with a thin nylon thread, simulating the LCF restricting the movement of the femoral head.

The model simulated rotational movements in the hip joint in the frontal plane – adduction and abduction, as well as possible translational movements after removing the axis of rotation. It was observed that the LCF could limit adduction to an angle of about 30º, closing the knot of mobility, characteristic of a single-support orthostatic posture. In the position of maximum adduction, the head could not be displaced cranially, as it was pressed against the lower sector of the acetabular fossa model, thus 'unloading' the upper sector of the facies lunata acetabuli, preventing the displacement of the femoral head upwards.

Accordingly, jumping from a height onto one leg with forced hip adduction can cause a rupture of the LCF. The consequence of this circumstance is a significant disruption of walking mechanics, an increase in its energy efficiency, overloading of the upper sections of joint surfaces, gradual wear, and the development of osteoarthritis or 'aseptic necrosis' of the femoral head. Prevention of the described pathology involves performing high-altitude jumps exclusively with support on two legs.

Keywords: ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, hip joint, injury, prevention

In translating to English, the author is assisted by ChatGPT (version 3.5) and the Google Translate service.

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Original text in Russian:

О ПОВЫШЕНИИ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ ПРЫЖКОВ С ВЫСОТЫ

АРХИПОВ-БАЛТИЙСКИЙ С.В.

Полесская центральная районная больница, Полесск, Калининградская область, Россия

В современных боевых действиях и антитеррористических операциях личному составу вооруженных сил и специальных подразделений зачастую приходится совершать прыжки с большой высоты или с парашютом. Повышение их безопасности позволит эффективно использовать физический потенциал личного состава и сохранять его боеспособность длительное время.

Для уточнения факторов способных привести к повреждению тазобедренного сустава и нарушить его нормальное функционирование при прыжке, нами проведены экспериментальные исследования на плоскостной модели тазобедренного сустава. На жесткий картон скопированы, а затем раздельно вырезаны контуры таза и проксимального отдела бедра. Центры изображения вертлужной впадины и головки бедра совмещены и сколоты иглой. Контур ямки головки бедренной кости и дна ямки вертлужной впадины соединены тонкой капроновой нитью, имитирующей связку головки бедра. На модели было смоделированы вращательные движения в тазобедренном суставе во фронтальной плоскости – приведение и отведение, а также возможные поступательные движения после удаления оси вращения.

Отмечено, что связка головки бедра способна ограничить приведение до угла около 30º, замыкая узел подвижности, что характерно для одноопорной ортостатической позы. В положении максимального приведения головку невозможно было сместить в краниальном направлении, так как она оказывалась прижатой к нижнему сектору модели вертлужной впадины. Тем самым, связка головки бедра как бы, «разгружала» верхний сектор полулунной поверхности, препятствуя смещению головки бедра вверх.

Соответственно, прыжок с высоты на одну ногу с форсированным приведением бедра может обусловить разрыв связки головки бедра. Следствием этого обстоятельства является существенное нарушение механики ходьбы, повышение ее энергоемкости, происходит перегрузка верхних отделов суставных поверхностей, постепенное их истирание, с развитием артроза или «асептического некроза» головки бедра. Профилактикой описанной патологии является выполнение прыжков с высоты исключительно на обе ноги.

Publication:

Архипов-Балтийский СВ. О повышении безопасности прыжков с высоты. Тезисы докладов Всероссийской конференции с участием стран СНГ, посвященной 60-летию Победы Советской медицины в Великой Отечественной войне 1941-1945 гг. «Травмы мирного и военного времени» (Анапа, 2005). Анапа, 2005.

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Comments

1902RilkeRM

Works of art that mention ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) are extremely rare. One such work is the poem «Der Schauende» ( He Who Visions, The Seer, The Man Watching, The Beholder) b y Rainer Rilke. Below is the original text in German. Der Schauende 1. Ich sehe den Bäumen die Stürme an, die aus laugewordenen Tagen an meine ängstlichen Fenster schlagen, und höre die Fernen Dinge sagen, die ich nicht ohne Freund ertragen, nicht ohne Schwester lieben kann. 2. Da geht der Sturm, ein Umgestalter, geht durch den Wald und durch die Zeit, und alles ist wie ohne Alter: die Landschaft, wie ein Vers im Psalter, ist Ernst und Wucht und Ewigkeit. 3. Wie ist das klein, womit wir ringen, was mit uns ringt, wie ist das groß; ließen wir, ähnlicher den Dingen, uns so vom großen Sturm bezwingen, - wir würden weit und namenlos. 4. Was wir besiegen, ist das Kleine, und der Erfolg selbst macht uns klein. Das Ewige und Ungemeine will nicht von uns gebogen sein. Das ist der Enge...

1730CheseldenW

Fragments from the book Cheselden W. The Anatomy of the Human Body (1730). The author draws attention to the role of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in counteracting hip dislocation and maintaining the femoral head in the joint. The work notes that the LCF is “powerful” and “short” - “about two inches” i.e. approximately 5 cm! This error will be corrected in a subsequent treatise ( 1733CheseldenW ) . Quote pp. 43 - 44 Chap. VII. Of the Ligaments At the upper part of the articulation of the Os Femoris and Os Innominatum, is a strong ligament of great consequence; it contributing very much to preserve that joint from being luxated by the weight of the body. And from the lower edge of the Acetabulum of the Os Innominatum, runs a ligament to the middle of the head of the Os Femoris, about two inches long (which the Motion in this joint requires) called Teres, or Rotundum, whose use is to prevent the Os Femoris from being luxated upwards, but down wards it will le...

LCF in 2026 (May)

LCF in 2026 (May ) (Quotes from articles and books published in May 2026 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris) Kim, P. S., Kang, C., Lee, J. K., & Hwang, J. M. (2026). Hip arthroscopy to treat symptomatic paralabral cysts: a retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes. Arthroscopy and Orthopedic Sports Medicine , 13 (1), 27-34. [i] e-aosm.org Ko, H. Y. (2026). Vascular Anatomy of the Extremities and Lungs. In Practical Functional Anatomy for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Guide for Physiatrists and Rehabilitation Specialists (pp. 191-223). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. [ii] link.springer.com Aiba, H., Yamaguchi, M., Kimura, H., & Murakami, H. (2026). Advances in limb-salvage surgery and reconstruction for pediatric bone and soft tissue tumors. Frontiers in Pediatrics , 14 , 1817788. [iii] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Bajwa, A., Villar, R., ...

1851HyrtlJ

The author expresses a classic view on the functions of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF): a conductor of blood vessels and a limiter of adduction of the femur. J. Hyrtl believed that it was impossible to completely dislocate the hip without tearing the LCF. Hyrtl J. Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen, mit Rücksicht auf physiologische Begründung und praktische Anwendung. Wien: W. Braumüller, 1851. [fragment] Quote p. 265 In der Höhle des Gelenks liegt das runde Band des Schenkelkopfes (Lig. teres), welches an der Incisura acetabuli entspringt, und bei richtiger Neigung des Beckens, senkrecht zur Grube des Schenkelkopfes aufsteigt. Es beschränkt dieses Band die Zuziehung des Schenkels, und schreibt zugleich den durch die Incisura acetabuli eindringenden Blutgefässen den Weg vor, den sie zum Oberschenkelkopfe zu nehmen haben. Da das Band, wenn es in die Höhle des Gelenkes vorragen würde, durch Reibung viel zu leiden hätte, so...

Human Children. Retelling of Chapter 14

Short retelling of chapter 14 of the essay: Arkhipov S.V. Human Children: The Origins of Biblical Legends from a Physician's Perspective. Joensuu: Author's Edition, 2025. [In Russian] Chapter 14. ESAU AND JACOB At 40, Isaac marries Rebekah, his cousin’s daughter. Their marriage is long childless until Rebekah conceives twins, detected prenatally, possibly by her large belly or palpation. Genesis states that at 60, Isaac fathers the twins, born naturally after 20 years of marriage. The first, Esau, emerges “red, all hairy like a cloak,” followed by Jacob, unremarkable but grasping Esau’s heel. Over time, their differences deepen: Esau, a skilled hunter, roams fields; Jacob, gentle, stays in tents. Famine forces the family from “Beer-Lahai-Roi” in the Negev to “Gerar’s Philistine king,” then to “Gerar’s valley,” and finally to Beersheba. At 40, Jacob, urged by Rebekah, deceives blind Isaac to steal Esau’s inheritance, sparking enmity. Rebekah advises Jacob to flee to rela...

16с.Archangel_Michael

Icon «Michael the Archangel (in deeds)», stigma «The struggle of Jacob with the angel» (16th cent.). Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis: 25 And Ja cob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ). Unknown author – Icon «Michael the Archangel (in deeds)»...

1626BartholinC

Fragment from the book Bartholin C. Anatomicae Institutiones Corporis Humani (1626). The author describes the anatomy, topography, geometric and mechanical properties of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). The term «terete» (rounded) is used to indicate its geometry. The term «cartilagine» (cartilaginous) is used to describe the hardness of the LCF, and the analogy of «nervus esset cartilaginosus» (like a cartilaginous sinew) is given. Similar terminological elements are present in the works of Galen of Pergamon and Theophilus Protospatharius ( 2020ArkhipovSV_ProlyginaIV ). See the previous edition at the link: 1611BartholinC Quote p. 409 [Lat] Cap. XXI. DE OSSIBUS TOTIUS PEDIS. … I. Est caput maximum & rotundum, ex appendice factum, quod in coxendicis acetabulum inseritur, & duplici ligamento cum coxendice nectitur: uno communi, lato, membraneo, sed satis crasso, orbiculatum articulum ambiente; altero terete, quasi cartilagine (ac si nervus esset cart...

1905BardeenCR

An excerpt from the article by Bardeen CR. Studies of the development of the human skeleton (1905). The author briefly discusses the emergence of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). Quote p. 287 The hip-joint is represented at first by a dense mass of scleroblastema, Fig. 55. The development of the acetabulum by ingrowth and fusion of processes from the iliac, ischial and pubic cartilages has already been described. The cartilagenous joint-cavity is at first quite shallow, Fig. 56. But extension of cartilage into the blastemal tissue which passes from the pelvis over the head of the femur serves greatly to deepen it on all sides except in the region of the cotyloid notch. The joint-cavity is at first completely filled with a dense blastemat tissue, Fig. 56. While the embryo is growing from 20 to 30 mm. in length cavity formation begins in the tissue lying between the cartilagenous floor of the acetabulum and the head of the femur. The first stage in the process is marked by a c...

1720RuyschF

The author draws attention to the well-developed blood supply of the acetabular fossa, as well as the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). In the work, it is referred to as the «ligamentum nerveo-cartilagineum», which literally means the tough cartilaginous ligament and implies its strength. With the difficulty of accessing the acetabular fossa, and therefore the LCF, Frederik Ruysch associates the inefficiency of treating hip joint pain. The writer presumably implies osteoarthritis. In our opinion, its development is initiated by the pathology of the LCF ( 2012АрхиповСВ ). The discussed work includes a black and white drawing of the LCF of a child, made by the illustrator Jan Wandelaar. In color, the same preparation, but from a different angle, was depicted by the artist Jan l'Admiral in a separate publication ( 1738LadmiralJ ). Ruysch F. Adversarium anatomico-medico-chirurgicorum decas secunda. In quâ varia notatu digna recensentur. Cum figuris aeneis. Amsterdami: a...

Human Children. Retelling of Chapter 1

Short retelling of chapter 1 of the essay: Arkhipov S.V. Human Children: The Origins of Biblical Legends from a Physician's Perspective. Joensuu: Author's Edition, 2025. [In Russian] Chapter 1. THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD The Bible stands as a remarkable testament to religious and philosophical thought, passed down through the ages with minimal alterations. At its core lies a collection of texts rooted in the sacred writings of Jewish and Samaritan traditions, known as the Torah, meaning "Law" or "Teaching." In its narrowest sense, the Torah comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, collectively called the Tanakh—an acronym derived from the Hebrew terms for "Law/Teaching" (Torah), "Prophets" (Nevi’im), and "Writings" (Ketuvim). Beyond this Written Torah, there exists an Oral Torah, which includes the Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash, offering interpretations and expansions of the written texts. The Written Torah it...

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