Decreased isometric knee flexion torque with hip extension in hemiparetic patients.

I measured the 90-degree isometric knee flexion torque of 12 hemiparetic patients while they performed unilateral knee flexion in sitting and supine positions. The measurements were taken to clarify why hemiparetic patients have difficulty flexing their involved knees when their involved hip is extended. The patients generated more torque in the sitting position than in the supine position and more torque on their nonparetic side than on their paretic side. The ratio of supine-to-sitting knee flexion torque did not differ significantly between sides. This finding suggests that hemiparetic patients do not have relatively greater difficulty generating knee flexion torque on their involved side with the hip extended than with the hip flexed. Recommendations for assessment and treatment are made with this finding in mind.