Which of the following is NOT a motor contracture listed for thoracic level?

Which of the following is NOT a motor contracture listed for thoracic level?

• A. Hip extension contractures
• B. Hip flexion contractures
• C. Hip abduction contractures
• D. Hip ER contractures

Answer: (A)

When a thoracic level lesion affects motor control, the pattern of muscle tone and movement tends to promote contractures in muscles that drive hip flexion, abduction, and external rotation. Those muscle groups remain capable of developing shortened, tight postures with limited passive range, especially with immobility and spastic patterns that often accompany high-level spinal involvement. Hip extension contractures, however, involve the hip extensor muscles, which are largely below the thoracic-level innervation and become weak or paralyzed. They don’t typically shorten into a fixed extension posture, so hip extension contractures aren’t a common motor contracture listed for thoracic level. Therefore, the other options reflect more typical contracture patterns (flexion, abduction, external rotation) seen with thoracic-level involvement.

When a thoracic level lesion affects motor control, the pattern of muscle tone and movement tends to promote contractures in muscles that drive hip flexion, abduction, and external rotation. Those muscle groups remain capable of developing shortened, tight postures with limited passive range, especially with immobility and spastic patterns that often accompany high-level spinal involvement. Hip extension contractures, however, involve the hip extensor muscles, which are largely below the thoracic-level innervation and become weak or paralyzed. They don’t typically shorten into a fixed extension posture, so hip extension contractures aren’t a common motor contracture listed for thoracic level. Therefore, the other options reflect more typical contracture patterns (flexion, abduction, external rotation) seen with thoracic-level involvement.