Gait Concepts Flashcards
What term is defined as the manner or style of walking?
Gait
What term is defined as the evaluation of the manner or style of walking?
Gait analysis
What term is defined as the combination of several successively arranged joints constituting a complex motor unit?
Kinetic chain
What term is defined as a kinetic chain in which the terminal segment can move freely?
Open chain movement
What term is defined as a kinetic chain in which the distal end of the extremity is fixed?
Closed chain movement
What term is defined as the force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it?
Ground reactive forces
What three motions are involved in the triaxial movement of the hip joint during gait?
1 Flexion-extension (θX)
2 Adduction-abduction (θZ)
3 Internal-external rotation (θY)
Which of the three movements of the hip joint have the largest range during gait?
Flexion-extension (θX)
What three motions are involved in the triaxial movement of the knee joint during gait?
1 Flexion-extension (θX)
2 Internal-external rotation (θY)
3 Adduction-abduction aka varus-valgus (θZ)
What is the primary motion of the knee joint during gait?
Flexion-extension (θX)
What limits the amount of varus-valgus of the knee joint during gait?
Soft tissue and bony constraints
Whenever the distal part is away from the midline, is it called valgus or varus?
Valgus
Whenever the distal part is toward from the midline, is it called valgus or varus?
Varus
Which variation describes the angulation of a limb at a joint?
Varus-valgus
Ankle motion is restricted by the morphologic constraints of which joint?
Talocrural joint
What are the only two movements permitted at the talocrural joint?
Plantar flexion/dorsiflexion
What must be initiated when preparing to begin gait?
A “fall”
What type of control propels the COG outside of the BOS?
Feedfoward
What term is defined as the moment at which the heel strikes the ground and becomes incorporated into the BOS?
Heel strike/heel contact
What term is defined as the moment at which the toe leaves the ground and is no longer incorporated in the BOS?
Toe off
What term is defined as the movement of ONE lower extremity from toe off to heel contact?
Step
What term is defined as two steps (one with each leg)?
Stride
What is another term for “stride” when referring to gait?
Gait cycle
How many steps complete a gait cycle?
2
What term is defined as the distance from the toe of the trailing limb to the heel of the leading limb?
Step length
What term is defined as the distance between two successive placements of the same foot?
Stride length
What does the stride length consist of?
2 step lengths (left and right)
What term is defined as the portion of one gait cycle in which both feet are in contact with the ground?
Double support
What concept distinguishes walking from running and is a period of “non-support” where neither foot is in contact with the ground?
Flight/float
The bipedal gait cycle consists of how many “phases” for each limb?
2 (stance and swing)
Which is the point at which the lower extremity is contacting the ground: stance or swing?
Stance
Which is the point at which the lower extremity is swinging through the air preparing for next impact: stance or swing?
Swing
While walking, how long is the typical gait cycle?
1 second
What is the ratio between the stance phase and swing phase during a normal gait cycle while walking?
60:40 (60% stance phase, 40% swing phase)
Which is a closed chain motion: stance or swing phase?
Stance (distal end of kinetic chain is fixed by ground reactive forces)
Which is an open chain motion: stance or swing phase?
Swing (distal end of kinetic chain is freely mobile)
About how many gait cycles are performed daily?
More than 5,000
When do the two periods of double limb support (both initial and terminal) occur?
When the contralateral foot is in contact with the ground
When does the intermediate period of single limb support occur?
When the contralateral limb is engaged in swing phase
What is the term for the period of “weight shift” during a gait cycle where the sole of the foot comes into contact with the ground and weight of the body is accepted onto the supporting limb?
Loading response ***
What makes up 27% of the stance phase and absorbs shock?
Contact
Where does “contact” begin and end?
Beings at heel strike, ends at foot flat
What is the period of the stance phase that makes up 27-67% of stance when COG is “vaulting” over the foot?
Midstance
When in the stance phase is store energy absorbed in contact to return it in the propulsive phase?
Midstance
What part of the stance phase is where the energy to move up and forward is utilized?
Propulsive
What are the parts of the stance phase?
1 Heel strike
2 Foot flat
3 Midstance
4 Pushoff (propulsive)
What are the parts of the swing phase?
1 Acceleration
2 Midswing
3 Deceleration
What part of the stance phase makes up the final 33%?
Propulsive
When does the propulsive portion of the stance phase begin and end?
Begins at heel lift, ends at toe off
What changes occur while running that changes the timing of the events in the stance phase compared to walking?
1 Increased speed
2 Need for more forceful propulsion
Compare the percentages for each stage of the stance phase while walking.
First 27% = Contact
27-67% = Midstance
Last 33% = Propulsion
Compare the percentages for each stage of the stance phase while running.
0-20% = Contact
20-45% = Midstance
Last 55% = Propulsion
What is the initial swing of the swing phase that begins with the lift of the foot from the floor and ends when the swinging foot is opposite the stance foot?
Acceleration
What part of the swing phase is when the swinging limb overtakes the limb in stance and begins as the swinging limb is opposite the stance limb and ends when the shining limb is forward and the tibia is vertical?
Midswing
What is the terminal swing of the swing phase that begins with a vertical tibia of the swing leg with respect to the floor and ends the moment the foot strikes the floor?
Deceleration
What are the 5 priorities of a normal gait?
1 Stability of weight bearing foot during stance
2 Clearance of non-weight bearing foot during swing
3 Appropriate pre-positioning of the foot during terminal swing for the next gait cycle
4 Adequate step length
5 Energy conservation
What is the relationship between the leg and arm swing during gait?
Swing of the arms is out of phase (opposite) with the legs
What is the point in the spine of rotational transition between the lumbars and thoracic and also the site of greatest rotation between vertebrae?
T6-T7
As the arms move forward during gate, what part of the body should rotate with them?
Shoulders
Do the shoulders and pelvis rotate in or out of phase with one another during gate?
Out of phase (shoulders rotate with arms, pelvis with legs)