Mechanical and anatomic hip flexion angles on seating children with cerebral palsy

This study measured anatomic hip flexion angles (AHFAs) at specific and known mechanical hip flexion angles (MHFAs) (ie, seat-to-back angles) in order to determine the relationship between the two in the seated position. Six able-bodied children and 12 children with cerebral palsy were placed in eight different MHFA positions while AHFA was simultaneously measured. It was found that, although related, the hip flexion angle and the angle between the backrest and seat surface are not equal in most seated positions. The difference between AHFA and MHFA was greater in the children with cerebral palsy than in the able-bodied. The hip flexion angle of the child in the seated position should not be described as the angle between the backrest and seat surface or the angle of inclination of the backrest.