4: Posture And Gait

Question 1

Anterior static posture screen landmarks: face

Answer 1

Ears, eyes, nostrils, angles of jaws

Question 2

Anterior static posture screen landmarks: trunk and upper extremities

Answer 2

Larger neck muscles, acromion, clavicles, carriage of the arms, finger tip length

Question 3

Anterior static posture screen landmarks: lower trunk, pelvis, lower extremities

Answer 3

Angle of rib cage, umbilicus, iliac crests, greater trochanters (must palpate), knees, ankles

Question 4

Three common anterior postural findings

Answer 4

1. Facial droop
2. Flexed arm held against body
3. Knees facing inward (genu valgus)

Question 5

Posterior static posture screen landmarks: head, neck, and shoulders

Answer 5

Ears, c-spine, paravertebral muscles, slope of shoulders, tip of shoulders, inferior angle of scapula

Question 6

Posterior static posture screen landmarks: trunk and lower extremities

Answer 6

Spinal alignment, paraspinal muscles, iliac crest, greater trochanters, knees, ankles

Question 7

three common posterior postural findings

Answer 7

1. Scoliosis
2. Short leg
3. Shoulder winging

Question 8

Lordosis and kyphosis**

Answer 8

Lordosis: anterior curvature (C and L)
Kyphosis: posterior curvature (T and S)

Question 9

Gravitational line (plumb line)

Answer 9

Line running down the ideal posture, where landmarks are on/slightly anterior to the posterior gravitational line

Question 10

Seven landmarks that should be along the gravitational line

Answer 10

1. Ears
2. Head of humerus
3. L3
4. Anterior 1/3 of sacrum
5. Hip bone
6. Knees
7. Lateral malleolus

Question 11

Two common lateral postural findings

Answer 11

1. Loss or exaggeration of spinal curves

2. Large anterior carriage of head and neck

Question 12

Goal of “gait”

Answer 12

Move the body forward + with as little energy as possible + without injuring self

Question 13

Two phases of a walking gait

Answer 13

Stance phase, swing phase

Question 14

Four parts to the stance phase of walking

Answer 14

1. Heel strike: establish stable contact w floor
2. Loading response: absorb group reaction to weight
3. Mid-stance to pre-swing: body weight carried forward
4. Terminal stance

Question 15

Four parts of the swing phase of walking

Answer 15

1. Pre-swing
2. Toe-off
3. Mid-swing
4. Terminal swing

Question 16

Why are gait pathologies important

Answer 16

They are high risk for falls

Question 17

Neurological etiology vs musculoskeletal etiology in gait pathologies

Answer 17

Neurological: muscles become spastic or flaccid
Musculoskeletal: caused by pain or weakness of muscle

Question 18

Five pathological gaits with neurologic etiology

Answer 18

1. Ataxic gait
2. Hemiparesis
3. Scissor gait
4. Steppage gait
5. Parkinsonian gait

Question 19

Two pathological gaits with musculoskeletal etiology

Answer 19

1. Waddling gait/trendelenburg gait

2. Antalgic gait

Question 20

Ataxic gait: which legs + explain

Answer 20

Bilateral legs; wide base with irregular steps and lack of balance

Question 21

Hemiparesis: which legs and explain

Answer 21

Unilateral leg; loss of function so pt drags/pulls limb stuck in spasm

Question 22

Scissor gait: which legs and explain

Answer 22

Bilateral legs; leg muscles stiff with knees pointed inward, extremities locked and swing across midline to walk

Question 23

Steppage gait/foot drop: which legs and explain

Answer 23

Unilateral leg; hiking step to raise leg higher and drops foot down

Question 24

Parkinsonian gait: which leg and explain

Answer 24

Bilateral legs; individual stooped over with a short, shuffling gait that speeds up involuntarily (Fenstrating)

Question 25

Waddling gait/trendelenburg gait: which legs and explain

Answer 25

Bilateral legs; duck-like waddle of the hips with trunk shifting towards stance leg

Question 26

Antalgic gait/limping: which legs and explain

Answer 26

Unilateral leg; shortened gait to prevent placing weight on painful leg