Hand function in cerebral palsy: the effect of hip-flexion angle.

This study tested the hypothesis that increasing hip flexion above 90 degrees would improve hand function in seated cerebral-palsied children with extensor spasticity. Hand function was measured objectively at four hip-flexion angles in an experimental group and a control group. The results showed no significant differences in performance. However, seat angles 10 degrees and 20 degrees above horizontal were least often described as uncomfortable. The results show that, contrary to current belief, increasing hip-flexion angle in seating for a child with cerebral palsy and extensor spasticity appears to have no effect on hand function.