Hip flexion contractures are a common complication in disabled patient
s. However, no previous study has examined reduced hip motion during g
ait. This retrospective analysis evaluates the relationship between th
e degree of hip flexion contracture found on static testing and the de
gree found during gait and also assesses the strength of the associati
on between hip flexion contractures and compensatory mechanisms such a
s anterior pelvic tilting, increased knee flexion, and decreased contr
alateral step length. Clinical and quantitative gait laboratory data w
ere obtained from 41 consecutive patients with mostly neurologically b
ased impairments who presented with bilateral hip flexion contractures
on Thomas testing (82 limbs). Correlation studies demonstrated a rela
tively weak association between the degree of peak hip extension durin
g gait and hip flexion contracture by Thomas testing (r = 0.41, P < 0.
0001). Limited hip extension was most closely associated with anterior
pelvic tilting (r = 0.60, P < 0.0001), whereas Thomas test measuremen
ts yielded a correlation with anterior pelvic tilt of only r = 0.36 (P
< 0.001) and were insignificant predictor variables of anterior pelvi
c tilting in regression analysis. Thus, peak hip extension and anterio
r pelvic tilting assessed during gait were poorly associated with the
static Thomas test measurements, and anterior pelvic tilt was most str
ongly correlated with reduced hip extension during gait compared with
the other compensatory mechanisms.