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Measurement of selected hip, knee, and ankle joint motions in newborns
Insights
This study measured joint range of motion in healthy newborns. Most infants showed limited hip and knee extension, with variations in ankle motion and popliteal angle.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
- Neonatology
Background:
- Growing need for quantitative joint range-of-motion (ROM) data in newborns and infants.
- Essential for preventative screening, assessment, and treatment.
- Limited normative data available for this specific population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normal passive joint range-of-motion values for healthy, full-term newborns.
- To investigate correlations between different joint ROM measurements.
- To identify potential factors influencing newborn joint mobility.
Main Methods:
- Goniometric assessment of passive range of motion in 40 healthy, full-term newborns.
- Measured: hip extension, knee extension, ankle plantar flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and popliteal angle.
- Statistical analysis using Pearson correlation coefficients.
Main Results:
- Nearly all infants exhibited limited hip and knee extension.
- Plantar flexion was generally restricted, while dorsiflexion was unrestricted.
- Popliteal angle measurements displayed significant variability among infants.
Conclusions:
- Normative joint range-of-motion data for newborns are crucial for clinical practice.
- Limited extension and variable popliteal angles are common findings in healthy newborns.
- Intrauterine position and newborn flexor tone may influence joint mobility.
Abstract:
As clinicians become more involved in preventative screening, assessment, and treatment of newborns and infants, an increasing need exists for quantitative, normal joint range-of-motion data for this population. We used a goniometer to assess in 40 healthy, full-term newborns the following passive ranges of motion: hip extension, knee extension, ankle plantar flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and the popliteal angle. Every infant except one lacked full extension at both the hip and the knee. Plantar flexion was generally limited, but dorsiflexion was unlimited. Popliteal angle measurements showed the greatest amount of variation among the infants. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated that those infants with greater dorsiflexion tended to have less plantar flexion, and those with a greater limitation of knee extension measured with the hip extended tended also to have a smaller popliteal angle. Intrauterine position and newborn flexor tone are discussed as possible contributing factors to the results obtained in this study.