Early Physical Therapy Intervention in Infant Hip Dysplasia

Abstract

The hip dysplasia represents a dysplasic syndrome, characterized by anomalies of articular and periarticular structures, and, as concerns the biomecanic part, reveals the hip instability, capsular laxity, and abnormal acetabulum. An important percent of our country's new-born children suffer from hip dysplasia, and most of their parents don’t know that the role of the physical therapist in this disorder's recovery is as important as the role of the physician. The research hypothesis: By precocious physical therapy intervention, individually applied and structured in accordance with the identified deficit, the nurseling's hip functionality increases and the risks of ulterior complications are eliminated. The action viewed a group of seven newborn babies, immediately after the diagnosis settlement, beginning with the physical therapy intervention. First, the newborn was evaluated, then the physical therapy intervention was structured in accordance with the initial results, which revealed the functional diagnosis. The number of sessions were 3 per week; they were realized by the physical therapist; andin the other days the patient exercised at home. As shown in the tests which were used in the initial evaluation, we can affirm that the newborns, at the end of the therapy, presented a qualitative spontaneous motility, in accordance with the stadium of development specific to the chronological age. Motility was symmetrical on both hips and pelvis in ventral and dorsal decubitus, the weight centre in ventral decubitus position being lowered, to xiphoid appendix, a fact that proves a greater stability of hips, but also an adequate support on forearms. Analysing the child's evolution, it can be seen that the effects of physical therapy weren’t just locale, but they formed a complex of beneficial factors, which contributed to a general muscular equilibration, a fact that was reflected by a general development specific to the chronological age, qualitatively. The parent is the key-element as concerns the identification of the functional limits, since the first days, but also in the ulterior intervention, becoming a member of the work-team, besides the doctor and the physical therapist.