GEOMETRICAL ANALYSIS OF HIP AND KNEE-JOINT MOBILITY IN CEREBRAL-PALSIED CHILDREN

The present investigation attempted to define a geometrical hexagon mo del for representing the sagittal range of motion (ROM) of hip and kne e joint. The effect of both monoarticular and biarticular muscles on j oint mobility in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) were analy zed by this geometrical method. Photographic analysis was used to meas ure hip and knee joint angle at six different boundary positions. The ROM in normal children indicated age dependent reduction of maximal hi p flexion and shortening of hamstring and rectus femoris muscles. A nu mber of SCP children showed greater reduction of both hip flexion and extension and shortening of hamstring and rectus femoris muscles, wher eas the ROM of knee joint was similar to that in normal children. The deteriorated hip joint mobility seems to be associated with shortening of muscle due to their intrinsic spasticity. The impaired ROM was mor e noticeable in SCP non-ambulator child than in independent ambulator. Thus, more extended range and frequent opportunity of joint motion ma y play an important role in improving the joint mobility in this patie nt group. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.