GAIT Flashcards
why is it important to assess gait?
to identify any biomechanical abnormalities in the LE
why may gait pattern be altered?
in order to compensate due to pain, disease, stiffness or weakness that can affect other joint and lead to more complex problems
until what age are gait patterns variable and irregular?
until the age of ~7
what is the property of walking in comparison to running in gait?
walking will always have one foot in contact with the ground
what does the gait cycle correspond to?
it is the stride length and describes what happens in one leg/foot. it thus corresponds to the interval and sequence of motion occuring betweeen two consecutive initial contacts of the SAME foot
what phases compose the gait cycle/
- stance phase
- swing phase
what % of the gait cycle corresponds to the stance phase?
60-65%
what % of the gait cycle corresponds to the swingphase?
35-40%
what are the different periods that make up the stance phase?
two double support phase and one single leg stance phase
what corresponds to the initial contact?
-heel strike
what is the property to describe the stance phase?
foot is on the ground and weight bearing
what sub-phases make up the stance phase of the gait cycle?
- initial contact
- load response
- midstance
- terminal stance
- preswing
how can the inital contact be described as?
period where the foot is accepting BW and absorbing shock, period of double leg stance
how is the foot and the stance in load response?
foot is flat
single leg stance
how can we describe midstance phase?
-single leg stance phase where the stance leg must be able to hold the weight of the body and thus balance off that single leg
how can we describe terminal stance?
the heel lifts off the ground however it remains a double stance
what is the aim of the terminal stance phase?
unloading the bodyweight
what happens in preswing? what is the aim?
goal is to prepare for the swing phase
toes push off the ground
double stance
what are the sub-phases of the swing phase?
initial swing
midswing
terminal swing
when does the swing phase occur?
when the foot is not bearing weight and is moving forward
what does the stance phase allow the toes to do?
allows the toes of the swing leg to clear the floor
what happens during initial swing/
Foot is lifted off the floor, rapid knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion occur to allow the swing limb to accelerate forward
what happens during midswing?
When the swing leg is adjacent to the weight-bearing leg which is in midstance
what happens during terminal swing?
Swinging leg slows down in preparation for heel strike