Angular alignment, rotational profile, and joint range of motion in the lower limb of typically developing children from 7–16 years of age: a cross-sectional study

Background and purpose: We aimed to update reference intervals for anthropometric parameters for the passive joint range of motion (ROM), rotational profile, and angular alignment of the lower limb in typically developing children (TDC), to compare the association of the variables age, left–right s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christian Wong, Michael Mørk Petersen, Trine Henriksen, Ales Jurca, Soeren Boedtker, Andreas Balslev-Clausen, Steen Harsted
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2025-05-01
Series:Acta Orthopaedica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://actaorthop.org/actao/article/view/43478
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850196424422064128
author Christian Wong
Michael Mørk Petersen
Trine Henriksen
Ales Jurca
Soeren Boedtker
Andreas Balslev-Clausen
Steen Harsted
author_facet Christian Wong
Michael Mørk Petersen
Trine Henriksen
Ales Jurca
Soeren Boedtker
Andreas Balslev-Clausen
Steen Harsted
author_sort Christian Wong
collection DOAJ
description Background and purpose: We aimed to update reference intervals for anthropometric parameters for the passive joint range of motion (ROM), rotational profile, and angular alignment of the lower limb in typically developing children (TDC), to compare the association of the variables age, left–right sidedness, body mass index (BMI), and sex. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a convenience sample of TDC from the 1st, 5th, and 9th grades (6–17 years) in a randomized selection of Danish primary schools. We examined the anthropometric parameters in a non-clinical setting. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the data. To explore potential differences across the variables, we utilized Bonferroni-corrected Welch’s 2-sample t-tests, one-way analysis of means, and univariable linear regression. Results: We analyzed the associations between the variables and the anthropometric parameters in 501 TDC, aged 6 to 17 years. We found a statistically significant, but not clinically meaningful decrease in ROM for the hip, knee, and ankle as well as decreased femoral anteversion and increased tibial torsion with increasing age, but no association with sex or sidedness. However, several associations between BMI and ROM measurements were statistically significant and potentially clinically meaningful, with ROM decreasing by approximately 0.4° to 1.2° per unit increase in BMI, particularly for hip, knee, and ankle flexion movements. Conclusion: Anthropometric parameters remain clinically stable after 7 years of age and are affected only by the BMI but not sex or age. We found a statistically significant but not clinically relevant decrease in torsion and joint ROM with increasing age.
format Article
id doaj-art-43b8b7dbdab342ddb3fa23ad05a2af9a
institution OA Journals
issn 1745-3674
1745-3682
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Medical Journals Sweden
record_format Article
series Acta Orthopaedica
spelling doaj-art-43b8b7dbdab342ddb3fa23ad05a2af9a2025-08-20T02:13:27ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Orthopaedica1745-36741745-36822025-05-019610.2340/17453674.2025.43478Angular alignment, rotational profile, and joint range of motion in the lower limb of typically developing children from 7–16 years of age: a cross-sectional studyChristian Wong0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3201-5827Michael Mørk Petersen1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2324-6420Trine Henriksen2Ales Jurca3Soeren Boedtker4Andreas Balslev-Clausen5Steen Harsted6Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet; Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, DenmarkDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, DenmarkAssociation of Danish Podiatrists, København S, DenmarkVolumental AB, Stockholm, Sweden; Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, SloveniaCopenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, DenmarkCopenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, DenmarkCenter for Muscle and Joint Health, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark; Medical Spinal Research Unit, Spine Center of Southern Denmark, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Denmark Background and purpose: We aimed to update reference intervals for anthropometric parameters for the passive joint range of motion (ROM), rotational profile, and angular alignment of the lower limb in typically developing children (TDC), to compare the association of the variables age, left–right sidedness, body mass index (BMI), and sex. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a convenience sample of TDC from the 1st, 5th, and 9th grades (6–17 years) in a randomized selection of Danish primary schools. We examined the anthropometric parameters in a non-clinical setting. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the data. To explore potential differences across the variables, we utilized Bonferroni-corrected Welch’s 2-sample t-tests, one-way analysis of means, and univariable linear regression. Results: We analyzed the associations between the variables and the anthropometric parameters in 501 TDC, aged 6 to 17 years. We found a statistically significant, but not clinically meaningful decrease in ROM for the hip, knee, and ankle as well as decreased femoral anteversion and increased tibial torsion with increasing age, but no association with sex or sidedness. However, several associations between BMI and ROM measurements were statistically significant and potentially clinically meaningful, with ROM decreasing by approximately 0.4° to 1.2° per unit increase in BMI, particularly for hip, knee, and ankle flexion movements. Conclusion: Anthropometric parameters remain clinically stable after 7 years of age and are affected only by the BMI but not sex or age. We found a statistically significant but not clinically relevant decrease in torsion and joint ROM with increasing age. https://actaorthop.org/actao/article/view/43478Foot and ankleHipKneePaediatric orthopaedicsStatistics
spellingShingle Christian Wong
Michael Mørk Petersen
Trine Henriksen
Ales Jurca
Soeren Boedtker
Andreas Balslev-Clausen
Steen Harsted
Angular alignment, rotational profile, and joint range of motion in the lower limb of typically developing children from 7–16 years of age: a cross-sectional study
Acta Orthopaedica
Foot and ankle
Hip
Knee
Paediatric orthopaedics
Statistics
title Angular alignment, rotational profile, and joint range of motion in the lower limb of typically developing children from 7–16 years of age: a cross-sectional study
title_full Angular alignment, rotational profile, and joint range of motion in the lower limb of typically developing children from 7–16 years of age: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Angular alignment, rotational profile, and joint range of motion in the lower limb of typically developing children from 7–16 years of age: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Angular alignment, rotational profile, and joint range of motion in the lower limb of typically developing children from 7–16 years of age: a cross-sectional study
title_short Angular alignment, rotational profile, and joint range of motion in the lower limb of typically developing children from 7–16 years of age: a cross-sectional study
title_sort angular alignment rotational profile and joint range of motion in the lower limb of typically developing children from 7 16 years of age a cross sectional study
topic Foot and ankle
Hip
Knee
Paediatric orthopaedics
Statistics
url https://actaorthop.org/actao/article/view/43478
work_keys_str_mv AT christianwong angularalignmentrotationalprofileandjointrangeofmotioninthelowerlimboftypicallydevelopingchildrenfrom716yearsofageacrosssectionalstudy
AT michaelmørkpetersen angularalignmentrotationalprofileandjointrangeofmotioninthelowerlimboftypicallydevelopingchildrenfrom716yearsofageacrosssectionalstudy
AT trinehenriksen angularalignmentrotationalprofileandjointrangeofmotioninthelowerlimboftypicallydevelopingchildrenfrom716yearsofageacrosssectionalstudy
AT alesjurca angularalignmentrotationalprofileandjointrangeofmotioninthelowerlimboftypicallydevelopingchildrenfrom716yearsofageacrosssectionalstudy
AT soerenboedtker angularalignmentrotationalprofileandjointrangeofmotioninthelowerlimboftypicallydevelopingchildrenfrom716yearsofageacrosssectionalstudy
AT andreasbalslevclausen angularalignmentrotationalprofileandjointrangeofmotioninthelowerlimboftypicallydevelopingchildrenfrom716yearsofageacrosssectionalstudy
AT steenharsted angularalignmentrotationalprofileandjointrangeofmotioninthelowerlimboftypicallydevelopingchildrenfrom716yearsofageacrosssectionalstudy