Gait and nerve injuries

Question 1

What are the phases of the gait cycle

Answer 1

Stance - heel strike, support and toe-off phases

Swing - leg lift and swing phases

Question 2

What are the features of a limp/antalgic gait

Answer 2

Short stance phase

Gentle heel strike

Question 3

Gaits with foot drop

Answer 3

High stepping
Swing out
Waddling

Question 4

Name of classification system for peripheral nerve damage

Answer 4

Seddon classification

Question 5

What are the classes of nerve injury

Answer 5

Neurapraxia
Axonotmesis
Neurotmesis

Question 6

Describe Neurapraxia

Answer 6

Mildest injury (stretch)
Temporary block of conduction in affected axons with no loss of axon continuity 
Epineurium intact 
No wallerian degeneration 
Full recovery

Question 7

Describe axonotmesis

Answer 7

Loss of axon continuity and myelin sheath
Epineurium intact wallerian degeneration
Can recover without surgery
Time for recovery depends on distance from site of injury to target organ

Question 8

Describe neurotmesis

Answer 8

Partial or complete division of axons, epinuerium, perineurium and endoneurium
Wallerian degeneration
Surgical Innervation required

Question 9

What is meralgia paraesthetica

Answer 9

Entrapment of lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh

Common in pregnancy and obesity

Question 10

What is piriformis syndrome

Answer 10

Compression of sciatic nerve by piriformis

Question 11

Describe heel strike and muscles involved

Answer 11

Foot hits ground, heel first
Hip Flexion - iliopsoas and rectus femoris
Knee extension - quadriceps femoris
Dorsiflexion - anterior leg

Question 12

Describe support phase and the muscles involved

Answer 12

Leading leg hits ground and copes with force passing through it
Knee extension - quadriceps femoris
Inversion and eversion

Question 13

Describe toe-off phase and the muscles involved

Answer 13

Foot prepares to leave ground, heel first
Hip extension - hamstrings
Knee extension - quadriceps femoris
Plantar Flexion - posterior leg

Question 14

Describe leg lift and the muscles involved

Answer 14

Lower limb raised in preparation for swing phase
Hip Flexion - iliopsoas and rectus femoris
Knee Flexion - hamstrings
Dorsiflexion - anterior leg

Question 15

Describe the swing phase and the muscles involved

Answer 15

Raised leg is propelled forwards
Hip Flexion - iliopsoas and rectus femoris
Knee extension - quadriceps femoris
Dorsiflexion - anterior leg