Gait Flashcards
What percentage of the gait cycle is swing phase compared to stance phase?
Swing phase=40%
Stance phase=60%
What percentage of the gait cycle is the body in double limb support?
20%
10% during right heel initial contact until just before left pre-swing
and
10% between left heel initial contact and right leg pre-swing
How much hip flexion range of motion is needed for normal gait?
0-30 degrees
How much hip extension range of motion is needed for normal gait?
0-10 degrees
How much knee flexion range of motion is needed for normal gait?
0-60 degrees
How much knee extension range of motion is needed for normal gait?
0 degrees
How much ankle dorsiflexion range of motion is needed for normal gait?
0-10 degrees
How much Ankle plantarflexion range of motion is needed for normal gait?
0-20 degrees
What muscle activity is happening during the initial contact phase of gait?
dorsiflexors contract to put foot in dorsiflexion during heel strike and prepare to lower the foot towards the ground
quads contract to place the knee in extension while hamstrings stabilize the knee and prevent hyper extension
hip extensors and abductors contract to stabilize the trunk and pelvis over the leg
What muscle activity is happening during the Loading Response phase of gait?
dorsiflexors act eccentrically to control lowering of the foot towards the ground
quads act eccentrically to control knee flexion while the leg accepts the body’s weight
plantar flexors work eccentrically to control dorsiflexion as the tibia moves over the foot
quads then act concentrically to draw the femur over the tibia
hip extensors contract concentrically to produce hip extension
What muscle activity is happening during the Mid-stance phase of gait?
plantar flexors act eccentrically to control dorsiflexion as body moves over the stance limb
very little knee motor action during this phase but quads do work concentrically to keep knee extended
hip abductors stabilize pelvis and prevent contralateral hip drop
iliopsoas contracts eccentrically to control hip extension
What muscle activity is happening during the Terminal Stance phase of gait?
plantar flexors work concentrically to aid the foot in its propulsion of the body forward
knee muscle activity remains limited
hip abductors continue to stabilize the pelvis
iliopsoas continues to slow the rate of hip extension
What muscle activity is happening during the Pre-swing phase of gait?
plantar flexors are at peak activity levels as the foot “toes off”
hamstrings begin to produce knee flexion to prepare for the swing phase
iliopsoas begins to work concentrically to produce hip flexion
What muscle activity is happening during the initial swing phase of gait?
dorsiflexors contract concentrically to clear the foot from the ground
hamstrings assist with foot clearance by flexing knee
hip flexors continue to produce hip flexion to advance limb forward
What muscle activity is happening during the Mid-swing phase of gait?
dorsiflexors continue to contract concentrically to maintain dorsiflexion
knee and hip activity are minimal since momentum allows for advancement of the limb
What muscle activity is happening during the Terminal Swing phase of gait?
dorsiflexors continue to contract concentrically to maintain dorsiflexion
ankle invertors also contract concentrically to prepare the foot for initial contact
quads contract concentrically to place the knee in extension for initial contact
hamstring act eccentrically to control rate of knee extension
hip extensors eccentrically slow the rate of hip flexion and prepare the limb for initial contact
What is the average step length and stride length for an adult?
Step length is 28 inches
Stride length is 56 inches
What is an Antalgic Gait pattern?
a protective gait pattern where the stance time is decreased to avoid weight bearing on the involved side due to pain
What is an Ataxic Gait pattern?
staggering and unsteadiness that usually has a wide base of support and movements are exaggerated
What is a cerebellar Gait pattern?
staggering gait pattern seen in cerebellar disorders
What is a double step gait pattern?
a gait pattern in which alternate steps are of a different length or at a different rate
What is an Equine Gait pattern?
gait pattern with high steps and usually involves excessive activity of the gastrocnemius
What is a Festinating Gait pattern?
gait pattern where a patient walks on toes as though pushed
starts slowly, increases, and may continue until the patient grasps an object in order to stop
What is a Hemiplegic Gait pattern?
gait pattern in which patients abduct the paralyzed limb, swing it around, and bring it forward so the foot comes to the ground in front of them
What is a Parkinsonian Gait pattern?
gait pattern marked by increased forward flexion of the trunk and knees; gait is shuffling with quick and small steps and festinating may occur
What is a scissor gait pattern?
gait pattern in which the legs cross midline upon advancement
What is a Spastic Gait pattern?
gait pattern with stiff movement, toes seeming to catch and rag, legs held together, and hip and knee joints slightly flexed
commonly seen in spastic paraplegia
What is a Steppage gait pattern?
pattern in which the feet and toes are lifted through hip and knee flexion to excessive heights; usually secondary to dorsiflexor weakness
foot will slap at initial contact with the ground secondary to decreased control
What is a Tabetic Gait pattern?
high stepping ataxic gait pattern in which the feet slap the ground
What is a Trendelenburg Gait pattern?
pattern that denotes gluteus medius weakness; excessive lateral trunk flexion and weight shifting over the stance leg
What are some common causes of a Foot Slap gait deviation?
- weak dorsiflexors
- dorsiflexor paralysis
What are some common causes of a Toe down instead of heel strike gait deviation?
- PF spasticity
- PF contracture
- weak DFs
- DF paralysis
- leg length discrepancy
- hindfoot pain
What are some common causes of a Clawing of Toes gait deviation?
- toe flexor spasticity
- positive support reflex
What are some common causes of a Heel lift during midstance gait deviation?
- insufficient DF range of motion
- PF spasticity
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is no toe off?
- forefoot/toe pain
- weak PFs
- weak toe flexors
- insufficient PF range of motion
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is exaggerated knee flexion at contact?
- weak quads
- quadriceps paralysis
- hamstring spasticity
- insufficient extension ROM
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is hyperextension in stance phase?
- compensation for weak quads
- PF contracture
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is exaggerated knee flexion at terminal stance?
- knee flexion contracture
- hip flexion contracture
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is insufficient knee flexion with swing?
- knee effusion
- quadriceps extension spasticity
- PF spasticity
- insufficient flexion ROM
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is excessive knee flexion with swing?
- flexor withdrawal reflex
- lower extremity flexor synergy
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is insufficient hip flexion at initial contact?
- weak hip flexors
- hip flexor paralysis
- hip extensor spasticity
- insufficient hip flexion ROM
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is insufficient hip extension at stance?
- insufficient hip extension ROM
- hip flexion contracture
- lower extremity flexor synergy
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is circumduction during swing phase?
- compensation for weak hip flexors
- compensation for weak dorsiflexors
- compensation for weak hamstrings
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is a hip hike during swing phase?
- compensation for weak DFs
- compensation for weak knee flexors
- compensation for extensor synergy pattern
What are some common causes of a gait deviation in which there is exaggerated hip flexion during swing?
- lower extremity flexor synergy
- compensation for insufficient ankle DF
