Gait Cycle

Question 1

Define gait

Answer 1

Mechanisms by which the body is transported using coordinated movement of the major lower limb joints

Question 2

Define stride, step and cadence

Answer 2

Stride - distance between initial contact of same leg
Step - distance between initial contact of opposite leg
Cadence - steps per minute

Question 3

List the phases of walking

Answer 3

Stance phase lasts 60% of the time
Includes heel strike, support and toe-off phases
Swing phase lasts 40% of the time
Includes leg lift and swing phases

Question 4

Identify the muscles active in each phase of walking

Answer 4

Heel strike
Gluteus maximus - acts on the hip to decelerate the lower limb
Quadriceps femoris - keeps the leg extended at the knee and hip
Anterior compartment of leg - maintains dorsiflexion Support
Quadriceps femoris - keeps leg extended to accept weight of body
Foot inverters and everters - contract to balance and stabilize foot
Gluteus minimus, medius and tensor fascia lata - abducts lower limb to keep pelvis stable
Toe-off
Hamstring muscles - extends leg at hip
Quadriceps femoris - maintains extended position of knee
Posterior compartment of leg - plantarflexion (mainly gastrocnemius, soleus and tibialis posterior)
Leg lift
Illiopsoas and rectus femoris - flexes lower limb at hip, driving the knee forwards
Hamstring muscles - flexes lower limb at knee joint
Anterior compartment of leg - dorsiflexion
Swing
Iliopsoas and rectus femoris - keep hip flexed
Quadriceps femoris - extends knee to position for landing
Anterior compartment of leg - maintains dorsiflexion

Question 5

When does walking become running

Answer 5

Instead of having double support phase (both swing and stance phase at same time), there is a double float phase

Question 6

Describe antalgic gait

Answer 6

Painful leg 
Short stance phase on affected leg 
Lack body weight shift to affected leg 
Short swing phase unaffected leg 
Use walking stick on opposite hand

Question 7

Describe hemiplegic gait

Answer 7

Hemi-brain injury - stroke, cerebral palsy, trauma
Flexed upper limb and extended lower limb
Short step on unaffected leg and circumduction on affected leg

Question 8

Describe diplegic gait

Answer 8

Neuromuscular disorders - cerebral palsy
Scissoring
Tight muscle groups - psoas, adductors, calf
Ankle plantarflexed
Forefoot initial contraction

Question 9

Describe high steppage gait (footdrop)

Answer 9

Inability to pull foot up, inability to dorsiflex
Damage to common or deep fibular nerve (normally wraps around head of fibula)
Nerve responsible for dorsiflexion
Cannot dorsiflex so foot dragged during swing phase
Excessive hip flexion affected side

Question 10

Describe parkinsonism walk

Answer 10

Shuffling short step
No arm swing
Forward flexed - may fall

Question 11

Describe trendenlenburg’s walk

Answer 11

Pelvis drops towards the side of the raised limb
Weakness of abductor muscles on standing limb
Leads to ‘lurching’ walk as trunk lurches to opposite side of raised limb to maintain steady pelvic level