Gait Cycle

Question 1

Define a complete Gait Cycle.

Answer 1

From heel strike to next heel strike of SAME foot

Question 2

What percent of the cycle is the Stance Phase? Swing Phase?

Answer 2

Stance: 60% of cycle

Swing: 40% of cycle

Question 3

Explain what is happening on the both sides of the body during the gait cycle.

Answer 3

1. Heel Strike (R) - Terminal Stance (L)
2. Flat Foot (R) - Pre Swing (L)
3. Mid Stance (R) - Mid Swing (L)
4. Terminal Stance/Heel Off (R) - Initial Contact/Heel Strike (L)
5. Pre swing/Toe off (R) - Loading Response/Foot Flat (L)

Question 4

What is an Antalgic Gait? What are some common causes?

Answer 4

Adopted Limp to AVOID pain on weight-bearing structures

VERY SHORT Stance Phase on affected side

Causes: Trauma, Osteoarthritis, Pelvic Girdle Pain, Coxalgia, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Question 5

What is an Arthogenic Gait? What are some common causes?

Answer 5

Due to Stiffness in affected Joints (usually hip or knee) from deformity/decreased joint space

Plantarflexion of foot OPPOSITE to affected side is increased to make more room for clearance of the effected leg

Affected leg is circumducted

Causes: Osteoarthritis of hip or knee joints, POST orthropedic surgeries of hip or knee

Question 6

What is an Ataxic Gait? What are some common causes?

Answer 6

Unsteady, Uncoordinated walk, Patient often watches feet when walking, Loss of SENSATION or CONTROL, may lurch or stagger

Causes: Vestibular, Cerebellar abscess/hemorrhage, Friedreich’s ataxia, Pontine-cerebellar atrophy, Chronic mercury poisoning, Posterior fossa tumor, Wernicke’s Syndrome, and DRUGS

Question 7

What is the Parkinsonian (festinating) Gait?

Answer 7

• Small shuffling Steps
• Hypokinesia (General Slowness of Movement)
• Reduced stride length and walking speed while cadence rate is INCREASED

Question 8

What is a Steppage Gait? What are some common causes?

Answer 8

“Foot drop”, “High Stepping”, “Neuropathic” Gait

• Fill foot drop
• Hip raised VERY HIGH to clear toe
• usually a quiet gait

Causes: LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION (Most common), Poliomyelitis, MS, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease

Question 9

What is a Hemiplegic Gait?

Answer 9

Leg is STIFF, without flexion @ knee and ankle, and with each step is rotated away from the body, then towards it, forming a semicircle