Exam 1 Flashcards
Basic Functions of Gait
Propulsion
Shock absorption
Stance stability
Energy conservation
The Gait Cycle =
One stride
Spatial Descriptors of Gait
Stride Length
Step Length
Step Width
Foot Angle
Stride Length
Measured heel to heel (ex: right heel to next right heel contact)
Normal = 144 cm or 1.44 m
Step Length
Measured heel contact to opposite heel contact
Normal = 72 cm
Step Width
Measured between heel centers
Normal = 8-10 cm
Foot Angle
The angle between the foot (thru 2nd ray) & the line of progression
Normal = 5-7 deg
(>7 is toe out, <5 is toe in)
Temporal descriptors of Gait
Cadence
Stride Time
Step Time
Cadence
Step Rate
Steps/min
Stride Time
Avg. is ~1 second
Time for full gait cycle
Step Time
Time for completion of one step
Avg = ~0.5 seconds
Spatiotemporal Descriptor: Walking Speed
Average = 1.37 meters/second
Gait Speed =
Cadence (steps/min) x Stride Length (cm)
How can you increase speed/walk faster?
Increase stride (or step) length
Increase cadence
Or both
Heel Contact
The instant heel comes into contact with the ground; the start of stance phase 0%
Foot Flat
Instant the entire plantar surface of foot contacts the ground (8% or 0.08 seconds in)
Mid stance
Center of mass passes directly over supporting lower extremities/pelvis
30%
Heel off
Instant the heel comes off the ground (40%)
Push-off
Period of ankle plantar flexion to propel forward (between heel off & toe off)
Toe off
Instant toe comes off the ground (60%)
Ends stance phase & Starts swing phase
Loading Response
~ initial contact until single limb support
Pre Swing
During end of stance phase, limb is preparing to swing
As Speed Increases…
-Gait Cycle Duration Decrease
-Cadence increases
-Stance Phase % decreases
-Swing Phase % increases
-Double Limb Support % decreases
-Step Width decreases
How could you increase your stride length if you are moving at a constant speed?
Decrease your cadence
(stance time would increase because you’d be taking less steps)
What is a motor unit made of?
Alpha Motor Neurons & Muscle fibers it innervates
What does EMG measure?
The electrical activity of the Action Potential moving alone the motor unit (basically how active the motor units are)
IT DOES NOT RECORD FORCE!
What are the two Strategies for Neuron Activation?
1). Recruitment- initial activation of specific motor neurons & their associated muscle fibers
2). Rate Coding- Discharge rate of sequential action potentials down motor unit
What does the Henneman Size Principle state about recruitment of motor neurons?
Smaller motor neurons are recruited before larger motor neurons.
Larger motor units are recruited as force requirement increases.