Hip spasticity and strength in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy

Hip spasticity and strength from 44 children with cerebral palsy (CP) and 44 children with able bodies (AB) were compared. For spasticity, a KinCom dynamometer abducted the passive hip at 4 different speeds and recorded the resistive adductor torques. Work values for the torque-angle data were calculated at each speed. Linear regression derived the slope for the line of best fit for the work-velocity data to determine the spasticity measure. For strength, the KinCom rotated the hip from maximum adduction to maximum abduction at a speed of 10 degrees/s while the child performed a maximum abduction concentric contraction. Tests were reversed to record maximum adduction. Maximum torques and work by the abductors and adductors were calculated. Spasticity in the adductors for the CP group was significantly greater than values recorded for the AB group. All strength measures were significantly less than the AB group. Results provide objective information, quantifying hip spasticity and strength in children with CP.