Gait Flashcards
Define gait
Mechanism by which the body is transported using coordinated movements of the lower limb joints
5 components of a normal gait
Stability in stance
Foot clearance in swing
Prepositioning for initial contact
Adequate step length
Energy conservation
Define gait cycle
Describes the period of time from initial contact to next initial contact on same side
Define stride
Distance of IC of one leg to next IC of same leg
Define step
Distance form IC of one leg to IC of other leg
Define cadence
Number of steps per minute
Describe the stance phase of the gait cycle
1- Initial contact - heel strike
2- Loading response
3- Mid stance - foot flat
4- Terminal stance - heel off
5- Pre swing - toe off
Describe the swing phase of the gait cycle
1- initial swing
2- mid swing
3- terminal swing
What does kinematics describe?
Describes motion
Components of kinematics
Joint angles
Displacements
Velocities
Accelerations
What does kinetics describe?
Describe the things that cause motion
- forces
- moments
What is concentric muscle work?
What does it do?
Shortening of muscles
Acceleration / power generation
What is eccentric muscle work?
What does it do?
Lengthening of muscle
Deceleration / power absorption
What is isometric muscle work?
What does it do?
Muscle stays same length
Stability
How to conserve energy in gait?
- Minimise excursion of centre of gravity - not moving up and down to much
- Control movement
- Transfer energy between body segments - arm swinging
- Phasic muscle action
List the 7 pathological gaits
Antalgic
Trendelenburg’s gait
Hemiplegic
Diplegic
High steppage
Parkinsonian
Ataxic
What is the name of a gait which attributes to limping?
Antalgic gait
What is the impact on the affected leg in Antalgic gait?
Short stance phase
Lack body weight shift
What is the impact on the unaffected leg in Antalgic gait?
Short swing phase
What muscles experience weakness in Trendelenburg gait?
Hip ABductors - gluteus medius + minimus
What does Trendelenburg gait look like?
Pelvis drop on unaffected side
Torso swings to affected side
What is the impact on the affected leg in hemiplegic gait?
Circumduction - crescent shape
What is the impact on the unaffected leg in hemiplegic gait?
Short step
Effect of hemiplegic gait on upper limbs
Flexed upper limbs
Effect of hemiplegic gait on lower limbs
Extended lower limbs
What is hemiplegic gait due to?
Hemi-brain injury
e.g. stroke, cerebral palsy, trauma
What muscle groups are tight in diplegic gait?
Psoas
ADductors
Hamstrings
Calf
What is diplegic gait often seen in?
Cerebral palsy
What part of the foot has initial contact in diplegic gait?
Forefoot initial contact
What is the impact on the affected side of high steppage gait?
Excessive hip flexion
Toes hanging down
Foot slapping
What is high steppage gait often due to?
Sciatica
Common peroneal nerve palsy
Neuromuscular disorders
What is seen in Parkinsonian gait?
Hard to initiate movement - often leant forwards
Short step
Shuffling
No arm swing
What is ataxic gait often described like?
Drunk like
What does ataxic gait look like?
Broad based
Arms of balance
Uncoordinated
What is ataxic gait due to?
(Not alcohol)
Cerebellar disorder
