Effect of Weight-Bearing in Abduction and Extension on Hip Stability in Children With Cerebral Palsy

In Brief Purpose: To study the effect of 1 year of daily, straddled weight-bearing on hip migration percentage (MP) and muscle length in children with cerebral palsy who were nonambulatory. Methods: Participants stood upright in maximum tolerated hip abduction and hip and knee extension ½ to 1½ hours per day for 1 year. Controls, matched for age, motor ability, and surgery, were derived from a national cerebral palsy follow-up program. Results: Participants using straddled weight-bearing after surgery had the largest decrease in MP (n = 3, 20 controls; P = .026). Children using straddled weight-bearing at least 1 hour per day for prevention also improved (n = 8, 63 controls; P = .029). Hip and knee contractures were found only in controls. Conclusion: Straddled weight-bearing, 1 hour per day, may reduce the MP after adductor-iliopsoas-tenotomies or prevent an MP increase and preserve muscle length in children with cerebral palsy who did not need surgery. Larger studies are needed to confirm the results. In this study the effect of a yearlong weight-bearing program for children with CP who were nonambulatory shows positive outcomes in preventing progression of hip subluxation.At the time this article was written, Caroline Martinsson was a student at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska Academy of Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.