Which hip position is avoided in the positioning plan for hemiplegia?

Which hip position is avoided in the positioning plan for hemiplegia?

• A. Knee flexion
• B. Hip flexion, adduction, and external rotation
• C. Shoulder adduction and internal rotation
• D. Ankle plantar flexion

Answer: (B)

In hemiplegia, positioning aims to prevent muscle shortening and maintain joints in a functional, midline alignment. The hip position to avoid is flexion with adduction and external rotation. This combination tightens multiple hip muscles—hip flexors, adductors, and external rotators—and can lead to a fixed contracture that alters weight bearing and gait. Keeping the hip in a more neutral position, or with slight abduction and neutral rotation (and the knee extended when possible), helps lengthen the hip flexors and adductors and preserves functional alignment. The other options involve joints other than the hip or describe positions less likely to promote hip contracture, so they’re not the focus of the hip-specific plan.

In hemiplegia, positioning aims to prevent muscle shortening and maintain joints in a functional, midline alignment. The hip position to avoid is flexion with adduction and external rotation. This combination tightens multiple hip muscles—hip flexors, adductors, and external rotators—and can lead to a fixed contracture that alters weight bearing and gait. Keeping the hip in a more neutral position, or with slight abduction and neutral rotation (and the knee extended when possible), helps lengthen the hip flexors and adductors and preserves functional alignment. The other options involve joints other than the hip or describe positions less likely to promote hip contracture, so they’re not the focus of the hip-specific plan.