Gait Across the Lifespan Flashcards
Development of Gait (from ___ to ___)
9 months to 7 years
What are the 4 spatio-temporal characteristics?
Velocity (m/min)
Cadence (steps/min)
Stride (m)
SLS (%GC)
Velocity of 1, 1.5, 3, 7 year old?
- 4
- 6
- 6
- 4
Cadence of 1, 1.5, 3, 7 year old?
176
171
154
144
Stride Length of 1, 1.5, 3, 7 year old?
- 43
- 50
- 67
- 97
SLS of 1, 1.5, 3, 7 year old?
32
32
35
38
By what age are children kinematics adult-like?
7 years
What is normal cadence?
1.4 m/s
What happens to cadence as a child grows?
Starts high, then drops
Changes won’t stop until maturity stops
What happens to stride length as a child grows?
The longer the leg, the longer the stride
Where is the COM? Why?
@ 9 to 15 months
Lower thoracic level due to the head being proportionally larger the COM is higher on the body
What contributes to babies being weak?
@ 9 to 15 months
High fat to muscle muscle mass ratio, muscle system not developed yet
Describe the standing posture of a baby.
@ 9 to 15 months
Wide BOS Hip ABD & F Excessive femoral anteversion Knee varus Tibia IR Heel everted
As bone develop which characteristic of posture will change?
@ 9 to 15 months
Femoral anteversion
What 3 characteristic is analyzed during a standing posture analysis?
@ 9 to 15 months
Knee varus
Tibia IR
Heel everted
What is the purpose of a wide BOS?
@ 9 to 15 months
Good M/L stability
Head must remain w/i BOS to maintain balance
What is the purpose of a full foot contact?
@ 9 to 15 months
Increase stability
Increase cadence
Decrease stride length
Foot Drop in swing (due to ant tib weakness)
What type of contraction do babies use?
@ 9 to 15 months
Co-contraction
Which muscles are activated during swing?
@ 9 to 15 months
Gastroc/Ant Tib
Which muscles are activated during stance?
@ 9 to 15 months
Quads/Hams
What are some factors that limit gait function?
@ 9 to 15 months
Decrease extensor strength (hip extensors, quads, gas)
Causing A/P stability limitations
Poor dynamic balance
Limited postural control (head & trunk)
What are the characteristics of a toddler?
@ 18 to 24 months
Increase near maturation
Increase walking experience
Lower COM
Describe the standing posture of a toddler?
@ 18 to 24 months
Decrease Hip ABD
Reduction in anteversion (still greater than norm adults)
Decrease knee various (valgus development)
Heel remains everted
Decrease BOS
- Reflects increase strength and dynamic stability
What are the gait characteristics of a toddler?
@ 18 to 24 months
Decrease BOS –> Increase A/P movement over supporting foot
Emerging LR knee flexion, Eccentric muscle control
Heel strike is seen by 24 months
Decrease co-contraction
What are the characteristics of a young child?
@ 3 - 3.5 years
COM is closer to extremities as LE growth stabilizes
Balance mechanisms still developing
- Visual/vestibular still immature
Describe the standing posture of a young child?
@ 3 - 3.5 years
Emergence of knee values
Decrease eversion at heel
Continued Decrease femoral anteversion (still greater than norm adults)
Describe the gait characteristics of a young child?
@ 3 - 3.5 years
More adult-like kinematics and EMG patterns
Joint torques remain somewhat immature (lower)
What are the characteristics of a grown child?
@ 6-7 years
Period of disproportionate growth passed
COM still higher (L3)
What is the standing posture of a grown child?
@ 6-7 years
Normal tibiofemoral angle
Neutral heel
Continued decrease in femoral anteversion (still greater than norm adult)
What are the gait characteristics of a grown child?
@ 6-7 years
Minimal difference in kinematics and kinetic when compared to adults
Temporal-spatial parameters continue to change with age
Factors contributing to altered gait patterns in elderly
Decreased... strength visual activity ROM/ increase jt stiffness spine/pelvic mobility, COM changes vestibular feedback
What are common gait characteristics of elderly?
Decrease velocity - decrease stride length & cadence Increase DLS time - decrease SLS time Increase BOS Foot flat IC - decrease heel rocker Decrease foot clearance - increase hip/knee flexion Decrease peak ROM - LR knee flexion - Hip flexion (swing) - Knee flexion (swing) - Ankle DF (stance)
What does heel rocker limit?
Forward progression
What is the first to go?
Heel strike!
