Electromyographic and force patterns of cerebral palsy patients with windblown hip deformity

The electromyographic activity and the forces around the hip were measured in resting, neutral, and 25 degrees abduction in 13 individuals with spastic quadriplegia and windblown deformity. A direct correlation was found between abduction force and myoelectric activity of the abductors. In the adducted hip, there was sustained activity of the adductors while the activity in the abductors was minimal in all positions. In the abducted hip, there was electrical activity in both abductors and adductors in all positions except 25 degrees abduction when only the adductors were active. The results suggest that early detection of potentially progressive windblown hips in children with cerebral palsy may be achieved by careful assessment of hip range of motion, recognition of spasticity in abductors, and the presence of a "pseudo-Galleazzi sign."