Final answer:
An increased femoral offset usually leads to a reduction in hip joint reaction forces by providing a great moment arm for the abductor muscles, thus enhancing their mechanical efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Increased femoral offset typically results in a decrease in joint reaction forces at the hip. Femoral offset is the distance from the center of the femoral head to the line of the femur shaft. An increased femoral offset means that there is a greater distance for the abductor muscles of the hip to act over, which can improve mechanical efficiency and reduce the force that the muscles need to exert to stabilize the pelvis during gait.
As the offset increases, the moment arm through which the abductor muscles work increases, allowing them to generate greater torque for the same amount of muscle force. This biomechanical advantage effectively reduces the overall joint reaction force required to maintain hip stability, which can potentially reduce the stress on the hip joint.