[Relationship of an increased internal rotation of the hip with pelvic tilt, spinal alignment and posture - does the so-called antetorsion syndrome exist?].

AIM: A cross-sectional study of pupils should show a possible relation between hip movement, posture and spinal alignment.

METHODS

143 children aged 6 to 17 years were clinically examined with particular respect to internal rotation and extension of the hip, spinal alignment and posture to determine if the so-called antetorsion syndrome exists in children as a remnant of the uprising of man.

RESULTS

Internal hip rotation decreased with age without any difference regarding the age between children with and without hip contracture. Children with hip flexion deformity had a significantly higher ability for internal hip rotation (p = 0.0471), but both hip extension and internal rotation were not related to spinal alignment (p = 0.5585/0.5612). On the other hand a normal posture is related with a "normal" back and age (p = 0.0004). The spinal alignment itself did not differ in the age groups. 30 % of the children with sufficient posture and 38 % of the ones with insufficient posture had a hip contracture. The latter showed an increased internal hip rotation by 12 degrees (p = 0.0079).

CONCLUSION

On the basis of these results, a relationship between muscular performance, neuromuscular maturity, decreased hip extension and increased internal hip rotation can be assumed. This so-called antetorsion syndrome exists in 20 % of the examined children. A relation to the spinal alignment especially the hollow-round back, cannot be found.