National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

Which range of motion at the hip is MOST likely associated with a recorded foot progression angle of -10 degrees in a four-year-old child?

1. 75 degrees of hip medial rotation and 25 degrees of hip lateral rotation

2. 35 degrees of hip medial rotation and 70 degrees of hip lateral rotation

3. 30 degrees of hip medial rotation and 20 degrees of hip lateral rotation

4. 45 degrees of hip medial rotation and 45 degrees of hip lateral rotation

The correct answer is: 75 degrees of hip medial rotation and 25 degrees of hip lateral rotation

A foot progression angle of -10 degrees indicates that the child's feet are pointed inward, which is associated with hip medial rotation. In children, the hip joint allows for a certain range of motion that is necessary for functional activities such as walking, running, and playing. The best answer here involves a combination of hip medial and lateral rotation that supports this inward foot position. With 75 degrees of hip medial rotation, the child demonstrates a considerable tendency toward internal rotation. This substantial medial rotation will lead to the feet being more pronated or pointed inward, which aligns with the recorded foot progression angle of -10 degrees. At the same time, the presence of 25 degrees of hip lateral rotation indicates that there is still some capacity for external rotation, which is a typical range for this age group's hip mobility. Children often exhibit various degrees of hip rotation as they develop, and the combination of a wide degree of medial rotation with a lesser degree of lateral rotation is characteristic and consistent with the observed foot position here. In contrast, the other options either show a more balanced rotation that would not result in a significant inward toeing or have less medial rotation, which does not align with the -10-degree angle found.