Gait Deviations Flashcards
Antalgic gait
painful gait
How does pain affect gait?
decreased stance time on the side w/pain
decreased opposite step length
Ataxic gait
uncontrolled, “staggered” gait
How does ataxia affect gait?
wide BOS
individual relies heavily on vision
Diplegic gait
spastic gait
How does bilateral spasticity affect gait?
narrow BOS
walks on tiptoes
scissoring of LE “walking on a tightrope”
Hemiplegic gait
one sided weakness
How does one sided weakness affect gait?
causes decreased DF
increases hip flexion & circumduction in order to avoid DF
Parkinsonian gait
slow & rigid gait
small shuffled steps w/reduced arm swing
How does Parkinson’s Disease affect gait?
small shuffled steps w/reduced arm swing
flexed posture
Trendelenburg gait
glute medius weakness
How does a R positive Trendelenburg change gait?
L pelvis drops & trunk lurches toward R stance limb to compensate for weakness
Lurch gait
Glue maximus weakness
How is gait changed with a lurch deviation?
trunk leans backward to achieve hip extension
results in increased time on stance limb
Foot Slap
- describe
- impairment
- compensations
rapid ankle PF after heel contact
due to DF weakness
causes toe extension, increased hip flexion & circumduction
Foot Flat
- describe
- impairment
- compensations
During heel strike, the plantar-surface makes contact with the ground instead of the heel
due to DF weakness
causes excessive hip & knee flexion
Initial contact w/forefoot (heel follows)
- describe
- impairment
- compensations
forefoot makes contact with the ground instead of the heel during initial contact
due to DF weakness
causes excessive hip & knee flexion
Initial contact w/forefoot (heel follows, but w/post tibial displacement)
- describe
- impairment
- compensations
knee hyperextension followed by heel contact
due to PF contracture or spasticity
causes hip flexion & forward trunk lean
Initial contact w/forefoot (no heel contact)
- describe
- impairment
- compensations
forefoot makes contact during initial contact instead of heel
pain, calcaneal fx, plantar fasciitis
knee & hip kept in flexion
Premature heel elevation (mid/terminal stance)
- describe
- impairment
heel rises early
lack of ankle DF
Supination (stance phase)
- describe
- impairment
foot remains in supination rather than going into pronation during stance phase
pes cavus
Pronation (stance phase)
- describe
- impairment
excessive pronation that increases weight-bearing on medial side
pes planus or ankle invertor weakness
Drop Foot
- describe
- impairment
decreased DF
DF weakness
Vaulting
- describe
- impairment
excessive PF during midstance
allows clearance of the contralateral limb
any impairment of the contralateral LE that decreases hip flexion, knee flexion or ankle DF
Excess Toe Out
- describe
- impairment
excessive ER or outward foot angle during stance
retroversion of the femur, tight hip ER or excessive ER of the LE
Excess Toe In
- describe
- impairment
reduced foot angle during stance phase “pigeon-toe”
excessive anteversion of the femur, spasticity or excessive IR of the hip adductors and IR
Knee Extension (after IC) “Extensor Thrust”
- describe
- impairment
- compensation
knee locks in hyperextension after IC
spasticity of quadriceps
trunk flexion
Knee Extension (LR) w/o Extensor Thrust
- describe
- impairment
- compensation
knee is held in prolonged extension during LR to reduce the need for quadriceps
quadriceps weakness or knee pain
trunk flexion
Genu Recurvatum
- describe
- impairment
- compensation
knee hyperextension during stance phase
quadricep weakness
trunk flexion
Flexed Knee (stance phase)
- describe
- impairment
- compensation
knee flexion
knee flexion contracture or hamstring spasticity
increased hip flexion & DF
Reduced/Absent Knee Flexion (swing phase)
- describe
- impairment
- compensation
knee flexion & DF reduced during swing phase
quadriceps spasticity or knee extensor contracture
hip circumduction or hip hiking
Forward Trunk Lean (mid/terminal stance)
- describe
- impairment
excessive trunk flexion due to mid/terminal stance to compensate for a lack of hip extension
hip flexion contracture or pain
Circumduction
- describe
- impairment
use of adductors & abductors to complete a semi-circle movement
hip flexor weakness
Forward trunk lean (loading response)
- describe
- impairment
use of body weight to extend knee
quadriceps weakness
Excess hip/knee flexion (swing phase)
increased flexion at the hip to shorten a long limb
leg length discrepancy due to lack of ankle DF or PF contracture
Hip hiking
Elevation of the ipsilateral pelvis or hip during swing to raise the affected limb up in an effort to clear the foot.
