Gait cycle Flashcards
what are the muscles of the leg anterior compartment?
Tibialis anterior
Extensor hallicus longus
Extensor digitorum longus
what are the muscles of the leg deep posterior compartment?
Tibialis posterior
Flexor Hallicus longus
Flexor digitorum longus
what are the muscles of the leg laterial compartment?
Fibularus longus
Fibularis brevis
- both evert the foot
what are the artery’s that supply the lower limb?
Femoral
Adductor hiatus
Popliteal
Anterior tibial
Posterior tibial
Fibular/Peroneal
What does the sciatic nerve innervate?
Legs and feet
what are the divisions of the sciatic nerve?
Tibial nerve
Common fibular/peroneal nerve
Superficial fibular nerve
Deep fibular nerve
what innervates the anterior leg muscles?
The deep fibular nerve
what innervates the lateral leg muscles?
superficial fibular nerve
what innervates the posterior loeg muscles?
the tibial nerve
is injury to the tibial nerve common?
No it is deep
what happens if the tibial nerve is damages?
Paralysis of plantar flexors and intrinsic foot muscles
what does the common fibular nerve divide into?
The superficial fibular nerve
The deep fibular nerve
what does the superficial fibular nerve innervate?
the lateral leg muscles
what does the deep fibular nerve innervate?
the anterior leg muscles
where does the deep fibular nerve run?
Descends in the leg along with the anterior tibial artery and vein
what is the most commonly damaged lower limb nerve?
The common fibular nerve
what happens when the common fibular nerve is injured?
Leads to foot drop
what are the two phases of the gait cycle?
The stance phase
The swing phase
what are the features that are different in the running gait cycle?
There is no period of double support when running
Time and frequency of the stance phase is reduced
There are times when both feet are off the ground
what is the Float/aerial phase of the gait cycle?
In running when both feet are off the ground
what happens at the lower limb joints in standing?
The hip and knee joints are extended
The knees are locked (all the ligaments are tight)
where is the centre of gravity?
The centre of gravity is anterior to the ankle joint, so people tend to fall foward, but plantarflexors counteract this fall foward
what muscle groups maintain standing?
Primary extensor muscles of the back and plantar flexors
what are the repetitve sequences of the gait cycle?
Propulsion
Support
how is the gait cycle initiated from standing?
Relaxation of plantarflexors
Dorsiflexion of the ankle joint
Then the limb enter into the swing phase
what are the phases of the gait cycle?
- Heel-strike
- Support
- Toe off
- Carry through
what are the gait cycle phases of stance?
Heel-strike
Support
Toe off
what are the gait cycle phases of swing?
Carry though
how does the gait cycle begin?
With heel stike
how does the gait cycle end?
With toe off
how does the swing phase begin and end?
Swing begins with toe off
Swing ends with heel strike
what is happening in the joints of the lower limb during heel stike?
Ankle joint- dorsiflexed
Knee joint- extended
Hip joint- flexed
what muscles are involved during heel stike?
Doriflexors
Knee extensors
Hip flexors
what is the role of the hip during heel stike?
Shock absorption
Flexed hip gets extended after heel strike
what is happening at the hip joint during the mid- stance phase of the gait cycle?
Progress of the body over the stationary foot
Maintain limb and trunk stability
Hip extension
what is happening at the hip joint during late stance?
Progress of the body beyond the supporting foot
Accelerate the body
Hips start to flex in preparation for swing
what is happening at the hip joint during mid-swing?
Limb advancement
Foot clearance off the ground
Hip flexors working
- hip is in the anatomical position
what is happening at the hip joint during late swing?
Complete limb advancement
Prepare for stance phase (deceleration)
Hip extensors contract to decelerate to foward movement
- the hip is flexed
what is the effect of high heeled shoes on stance?
Increased pressue on metatarso-phalangeal joints during stance
Prone to hallux valgus (bunion), calluses, metatarsalgia
how do high heels effect the joints of the lower limb?
Increased knee joint flexion and plantarflexion at heel strike
Increased muscle activities… may lead to fatigue faster
what is happening at the ankle joint during heel strike?
Initial impact
Shock absorption
Dorsiflexors contract to the lower foot to the ground
what is happening at the ankle joint during mid stance?
The foot has been lowered to the ground
Movement foward
Dorsiflexors contract to pull tibia fowards over the foot, then gravity and momentum take over
- ankle in anatomical position
what is happening at the ankle joint during mid stance?
The foot has been lowered to the ground
Movement forward
Dorsiflexors contract to pull tibia forward over the foot, then gravity and momentum take over
- ankle in anatomical position
what is happening at the ankle joint during late stance?
Prepare for swing phase
Accelerate body forward
Toe-off propulsion
- ankle is plantarflexer
what is happening at the ankle joint during mid swing?
Limb advancement
Foot clearance off the ground
Dorsiflexors and toe extensors working
- ankle is dorsiflexed
-Toes extended
what is happening at the ankle joint during late swing?
Complete limb advancement
Prepare for stance phase (deceleration)
Dorsiflexors and toe extensors ensure the foot is in optimal position for heel stike
- ankle is dorsiflexed
how does the gait cycle change with age?
- muscles get weaker/atrophy
-flexed posture in the lower limb during standing, flexed neck - balance compromised
-Gait is slower, decreased stride length, increased stance time, more time in double stance, less propulsive forces developed
what are some other causes of changes in the gait cycle?
Medical treatment
e.g. androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) causes muscle atrophy and increase fat in men
Reduced muscle force
Step width increases
Forward acceleration decreases
At risk of falling and bone fracture
what happens to the gait cycle when hip abductors lose stength?
Unable to maintain pelvis level during single leg stance (contralateral drop)
how does the body compensate for weakened hip adbuctors?
FLexion through the opposite side
Lateral trunk flexion
how can the hip flexor action be damaged?
through damage to the superiorgluteal nerve
what happens when dorsiflexor a weak?
Toes dont clear during swing
Foot slap/foot drop after heel strike
how does the body compensate for weak dorsiflexion?
raise the knee higher in the swing phase
