Are Wheelchairs Hurting Children’s Hips? | S2 EP1 with Dr. Mathias Axt ( Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon)

We are back for Season 2 — and we are kicking things off in a big way. I'll be honest with you. Hip abduction in non-ambulant children is one of those topics that every clinician I know has wrestled with at some point. How much abduction is enough? Are we helping or are we making things worse? Should every non-ambulant child be sitting in abduction? And what on earth do we do with a windswept deformity? I've been hearing Dr. Mathias Axt's name out in the traps for years whenever these questions come up — and now I finally got him on the pod. Dr. Axt is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience in children's hospitals, specialising in hip development, surgical management, and long-term outcomes in non-ambulant children. The man knows his stuff, and he does not hold back. This episode is for you whether you're a clinician, a wheelchair rep, or a parent or end user trying to make sense of what you've been told about seating and hips. We cut through the confusion and get into the real clinical principles that should be driving these decisions. In this episode, we cover: Why hips migrate in children with cerebral palsy — and why they're normal at birth The role of muscle imbalance, Coxa Valga, and antetorsion in hip displacement Why abduction is a tool, not a rule — and what the 20-degree principle actually means The danger of forcefully abducting an already subluxed hip Windswept deformity — what it is, why it matters, and how to seat around it Why frog leg positioning is something we want to avoid and what to do instead The problem with standard contoured cushions and why flat cushions with adjustable pommels may serve these kids better Why pelvis rotation is more important than leg symmetry The call for better collaboration between clinicians, wheelchair reps, and manufacturers This one genuinely changed the way I'm thinking about how we seat these kids. Subscribe, leave us a review, and share this with every clinician and wheelchair rep you know because this conversation needs to keep going. Email us : We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected] Follow us : TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@wheelchat_podcast Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/wheelchat_podcast/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.