Gait Analysis Flashcards
Descriptive analysis gait mechanics
What is happening during gait?
Diagnostic analysis gait mechanics
Why is it happening?
Prognostic analysis of gait mechanics
What will likely happen?
Prescriptive analysis of gait mechancis
what do we about what is happening?
Why is timing of muscle activity important during gait?
coordination
balance/falls
efficiency/energy conservation
Concentric muscles during gait
accelerate a segment
Eccentric muscles during gait
slow down/decelerate a segment
Isometric muscles during gait
stabilize segments
Stance phase trends
hip stabilization during loading response and midstance
Swing phase trends
hip flexors active during swing phase
Loading response stance phase trends
hip extensors and dorsiflexors active
Mid and Terminal stance general trends
plantarflexors active
Swing phase general trends
initial swing = dorsiflexors
terminal swing = hamstrings and quads
Erect Spinae
controls forward momentum of trunk on hips at initial contact
rectus abdominus
coincides with active hip flexors, anchors pelvis and spine
Hip extensors
active during weight acceptance and initiates hip extension (helping start swing phase)
Hip flexors
eccentrically control late stance and initiates hip flexion during swing
Hip abductors
active just before initial contact to stabilize frontal plane, highest activity in single limb stance
Hip Adductors/IR
stabilizers at initial contact and toe off
Knee extensors
eccentric control of knee flexion through first 10% of gait cycle
Knee flexors
eccentric deceleration before initial contact for hip extension and knee stability
Tibialis Anterior
decelerates at initial contact, dorsiflexes in swing to clear foot
Plantarflexors
eccentric control tibial translation in stance, PF propulsion before toe off
Tibialis Posterior
decelerates pronation after heel strike, supinates from midstance to toe off
Biomechanical Subcomponents of Gait
Propulsion
Limb Swing
Stance Control
Postural Stability
Propulsion
forward progression
redirect falling center of mass to kinetic energy
Limb Swing
positive step length
moves in pendular fashion opposite of COM, uses gravity and hip flexor activity to advance limb
Stance control
preventing trunk hip and knee collapse (sagittal plane)
to maintain postural stability, the swinging limb must accept weight upon contact, and continue to support the passenger unit
Postural Stability
lateral stability (frontal plane)
lateral movement of COM typically minimal, perturbations may result in loss of balance
Metabolic Cost of each biomechanical subcomponents of gait
Propulsion (50-75%)
Stance Control (25%)
Limb Swing, Postural Stability (5-10%)
Rancho Gait Pros
corrects micro gait mechanics, useful for normal kinematics
Rancho Gait Cons
may miss out on important info for return to function
Subcomponents of Gait Pros
framework/guide for HIGT, considers metabolic cost, focusing attention on gait deficits that are most important, best RTF for neuro
Subcomponents of Gait Cons
may deemphasize underlying deficits
Symmetry
perfect agreement of external kinetics and kinematics of movement
Speed
rate of change or velocity of segment or body displacement from start to finish of a task
Amplitude
the extent or range of movement used to complete a task (ROM, step length, stride length, distance)
Alignment
Biomechanical relationship of body segments to one another as well as to the base of support and environment in order to achieve the task at hand
(orientation of body segments with respect to other limb segments)
Vertical Postural Control
ability to orient the body in relation to the line of gravity
Stability Postural Control
ability to control the body’s center of mass in relation to the base of support under static and dynamic conditions
Smoothness
movement is perceived to be smooth when it happens in a continual fashion without any interruptions in velocity or trajectory
Sequencing
specific order of motor output required to achieve the intended goal of the action
joint coordination
Timing
overall temporal structure of movement which includes the relative percentage of time devoted to movement segments, including initiation, execution, and termination
Accuracy
closeness of a measured value to a standard or known value, freedom from error
spatial or variable errors
