Gait analysis Flashcards
Why evaluate gait?
= most common physical activity performed by humans
= inability to walk limits ones ability to participate in society
=Abnormalities in gait can cause decreased efficiency and increased energy cost
How do abnormal gait patterns affect LE?
- joint stress (bone and cartilage)
- Soft tissue strain (ligament and tendon)
- Muscle overuse
Clinical indications for Gait analysis?
- pain, instability, inability to walk quickly/efficiently/over distances
Functions of locomotor unit in gait?
- Shock absorption
- Stance stability (passive and active)
- Forward progression
- Energy conservation
define shock absorption?
contacting the ground creating an impact force (passively and actively) –> GRF
example of passive shock absorbers?
Bone and cartilage
example of active shock absorbers?
eccentric muscle contraction
How can one determine if gait is more passive or more active?
loading response ! (phase in the gait cycle)
which muscle group is the primary shock absorber in walking?
quadriceps
When does passive stance stability occur? Saggittal
it is when the Center of Mass is directly aligned over the Base of Support –> therefore least amount of muscular effort.
Where is the COM in relation to the majority of the gait cycle?
the COM is majorly behind the (reference limb) foot and the force vector behind the ankles.
When does “dynamic stability” occur?
When there is an internal response from our muscles TO an external torque.
How about stance stability in the frontal plane?
people are inherently unstable ( ie single limb stance) –> more muscular control required
define forward progression?
the transition of COM over a distance
list the stages of forward progression
- heel rocker
- ankle rocker
- forefoot rocker
- forward fall of bodyweight
- swing limb momentum
what happens in heel rocker forward progression?
- strike with heel –> first initial contact (creating a pivot point about the calcaneous) –> thereby rocking the tibia forward
- overall creates instability
what happens in ankle rocker forward progression?
- when foot is flat on the ground, the ankle dorsiflexes allowing COM to move over the foot
what happens in forefoot/toe rocker forward progression?
- heel comes off the ground –> allows the COM to progress beyond the BOS
- essentially a continuation of ankle rocker
what happens in forward fall of body weight?
- it sets up the contralateral leg to begin heel rocker stage due to COM goes beyond the foot
what happens in Swing limb momentum?
limb swings forward helping the COM forwardly progress
define how to conserve energy in terms of gait:
- Keep the COM stable as possible, not moving excessively –> this is the best way to walk
(less muscular effort)
When is the COM at its peak?
- during the single limb stance
when is the COM at its lowest?
- during double limb stance
Movement analysis language?
phase
objective
critical event
