Standing Program and Cerebral Palsy

Pediatric Physical Therapy published research on the effect of weight-bearing in abduction and extension on hip stability in children with cerebral palsy. Three non ambulatory children with cerebral palsy post surgery participated in a standing program with hips in maximum abduction and hip and knee extension. Following one year of the standing program the three children exhibited the largest decrease in hip migration percentage compared to 20 children in the control group. Eight non ambulatory children who did not undergo surgery also participated in a preventative standing program for one year. The eight subjects also exhibited a decrease in hip migration percentage compared to the 63 controls. Only the control group had hip and knee contractures.

The authors concluded that:

• standing for one hour per day in maximum hip abduction and hip and knee extension may reduce hip migration percentage post adductor-iliopsoas-tenotomies
• standing for one hour per day in maximum hip abduction and hip and knee extension may prevent an increase in hip migration percentage and prevent muscle contractures in children who have not had surgery
• larger studies need to be performed to confirm the findings.

Reference: Martinsson, Caroline PT, MSc; Himmelmann, Kate MD, PhD Effect of Weight-Bearing in Abduction and Extension on Hip Stability in Children With Cerebral Palsy Pediatric Physical Therapy: Summer 2011 – Volume 23 – Issue 2 – p 150–157
doi: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e318218efc3