Range of movements of lower limb joints in cross-legged sitting posture.

ABSTRACT

Cross-legged sitting posture is integral to activities of daily living in Eastern and Asian cultures. This posture has not been studied or defined in any significant detail from an orthopedic view point. The movements of right lower limb joints were measured in cross-legged sitting posture in 44 volunteers from the Indian population with no prior history of problems related to the knee or hip joint. Flexion at the hip joint ranged from 82 degrees to 100 degrees , with a mean of 91 degrees . Abduction at the hip joint ranged from 19 degrees to 57 degrees , with a mean of 39 degrees . The external rotation ranged from 42 degrees to 58 degrees , with a mean of 49 degrees . Flexion at the knee ranged from 126 degrees to 142 degrees , with a mean of 135 degrees . Equinus at the ankle ranged from 17 degrees to 34 degrees , with a mean of 29 degrees . The resultant data would be useful in understanding kinematics of the knee and hip in the healthy and post-total joint arthroplasty population. The data could be used for design features of prosthetic joints, surgical technique, and rehabilitation protocols. Such data have not been available hitherto in any relevant published literature.