Gait assessment

Question 1

Weakness of what muscle over-exaggerates shift to supporting leg in stance phase?

Answer 1

gluteus medius

Question 2

under-rotation of the pelvis in swing phase may indicate what?

Answer 2

pain on weight-bearing

Question 3

what may cause loss of normal smooth gait in push off?

Answer 3

knee stiffness, fusion, or pain

Question 4

difficulty of knee extension in heel strike may be caused by weakness of what muscle(s)?

Answer 4

quadriceps

Question 5

what muscle contracts for dorsiflexion in heel strike

Answer 5

tibialis anterior

Question 6

foot slap in midstance is caused by…

Answer 6

weak dorsiflexors

Question 7

contralateral hip drop during mid-stance phase is due to weakness of what muscles?

Answer 7

gluteus medius and minimus

Question 8

what muscles are responsible for the push-off phase?

Answer 8

gastrocnemius, soleus, FHL

Question 9

anterior pelvic rotation during acceleration is caused by weakness of what muscle?

Answer 9

quadriceps femoris

Question 10

what muscle extends the knee during deceleration?

Answer 10

quadriceps femoris

Question 11

what muscles contract to slow down the swing (deceleration) prior to heel strike?

Answer 11

hamstrings

Question 12

antalgic gait

Answer 12

gait with dec. time in stance

inc. time in swing on painful side

Question 13

ataxic gait

Answer 13

wide/broad-based gait to accommodate loss of balance

Question 14

parkinsons gait

Answer 14

hypokinetic or festinating gait with increased tone through all muscles creating small movements in lower extremities; decreased trunk movements

Question 15

when does hip adductor spasticity affect gait what type of gait results

Answer 15

in stance = contralateral hip drop

results in scissor gait = less BOS

Question 16

phases in gait

Answer 16

1) initial contact
2) loading response
3) mid-stance
4) terminal stance
5) preswing
6) initial swing
7) mid swing
8) terminal swing

Question 17

What gait deviations can occur at the knee, and at what phase of gait does this occur?

Answer 17

• inadequate extension (terminal swing through terminal stance)
• flexion limited, absent or excessive (loading response, pre-swing, initial contact)
• hyperextension (any stance phase)
• varus (any phase)
• valgus (any phase)

Question 18

What gait deviations can occur at the hip? and at what phase of gait?

Answer 18

• inadequate flexion (swing-phases through to loading response)
• inadequate extension (mid-swing phases through pre-swing)
• adduction- abduction (any phase)
• external- internal rotation (any phase)
• valgus (any phase)

Question 19

What gait deviations can occur at the pelvis? and in what phase of gait?

Answer 19

• anterior tilt (symphysis down)
• posterior tilt (symphysis up)
• controlateral drop ipsolateral drop
• hike (ipsolateral elevation)

Question 20

What gait deviations can occur at the trunk? and in what phase of gait?

Answer 20

• forward lean
• backward lean
• rotation (to left or right)
• lateral lean

Question 21

Describe the gait compensations associated with laxity of the medial collateral ligament of the knee

Answer 21

- joint deforms into valgus during stance phase
To maintain balance:
- the hip adducts
- the ankle inverts
- the spine laterally flexes

Question 22

Describe the gait compensations associated with gluteus maximus weakness.

Answer 22

In normal gait the gluteus maximus prevents forward flexion of the trunk at the hips during IC.
To compensate the pelvis is thrust forward with hyperextension at the hip joint and increased lordosis of the lumbar spine