Windswept? Internally Rotated Gait? Cavalry to the Rescue!

This is one of the easier external rotation exercises. When my client needs the visual feedback, I position her so she can see herself by looking in a mirror back at her feet. Watch out! As can be seen by this picture series, this way of doing this exercise encourages cheating. But to be honest many kids (for example, those with abnormal tone) need a little help, especially when I first start working on external rotation. If the child has a better side, this exercise allows the less involved side to help the trickier side. There is a time and a place when you want that option allowing the other leg to help in the movement. Additionally, as can be seen by my model, my clients tend to get extra hip movement of the entire pelvis helping with the effective movement of the legs into internal and external rotation. This exercise seems to be easier to motor plan for kids than having both legs go into internal rotation and both legs into external rotation simultaneously, having them both out and then both in at the same time. You may want to try both styles of working on rotation to see which works better for your client. Note: My clients who have difficulty generating power for hip rotation, usually also have difficulty sustaining knee flexion for this exercise. I usually hold the client in knee flexion so she can focus on the rotation component. I also usually need to facilitate/assist part of the movement and resist other parts of this movement.