Gait Flashcards
1
Q
Define “gait”
A
A person’s manner of walking or the way locomotion is achieved using limbs.
2
Q
Which phases make up a gait cycle
A
Stance phase (60%) and Swing phase (40%)
3
Q
Describe a “gait cycle”
A
A gait cycle begins with the initial contact of one foot with the ground and ends when the heel (heel strike) of that foot touches the ground again.
4
Q
Observations to make when assessing gait
A
- Positioning of the trunk
- Arm swing
- Positioning of the pelvis (no abnormal anterior/posterior tilt)
- Hips (extension, flexion, abnormal abduction to bring the leg forward)
- Knees (flexion,extension)
- Ankles (sufficient dorsi- and plantar flexion)
- Rhythm
- Weight bearing when standing
- Postural alignment
5
Q
Stance Phase
- Describe “weight-load acceptance”
- Describe what happens to the hip, knee and the ankle
A
• Heel comes into contact with the floor and foot is flat on the ground.
- Hip = flexion
- Knee = extension
- Ankle = dorsiflexion
6
Q
Stance Phase
- Describe “midstance”
- What happens to the hip, knee and the ankle
A
• Foot moves from being flat on the ground to the heel being lifted
- Hip = extension
- Knee = flexion
- Ankle = plantar flexion
7
Q
Stance Phase
- Describe what happens during “push-off”
- Describe what happens to the hip,knee and the ankle
A
• weight moves onto the tow and foot prepares to move off the ground.
- Hip = extension
- Knee = flexion
- Ankle = Plantar flexion
8
Q
Swing Phase
- Describe “lift off (early swing)”
- Describe what happens to the hip,knee and the ankle
A
• Leg swings forward with foot clearing the ground.
- Hip = extension
- Knee = flexion
- Ankle = plantar flexion
9
Q
Swing phase
- Describe what happens during “reach(late swing)”
- Describe what happens to the hip,knee and ankle
A
• Leg decelerates and prepares to make “heel contact”
- Hip = flexion
- Knee = extension
- Ankle = dorsiflexion
