Gait Deviations

Question 1

Antalgic gait

Answer 1

painful gait

Question 2

How does pain affect gait?

Answer 2

decreased stance time on the side w/pain
decreased opposite step length

Question 3

Ataxic gait

Answer 3

uncontrolled, “staggered” gait

Question 4

How does ataxia affect gait?

Answer 4

wide BOS
individual relies heavily on vision

Question 5

Diplegic gait

Answer 5

spastic gait

Question 6

How does bilateral spasticity affect gait?

Answer 6

narrow BOS
walks on tiptoes
scissoring of LE “walking on a tightrope”

Question 7

Hemiplegic gait

Answer 7

one sided weakness

Question 8

How does one sided weakness affect gait?

Answer 8

causes decreased DF
increases hip flexion & circumduction in order to avoid DF

Question 9

Parkinsonian gait

Answer 9

slow & rigid gait

small shuffled steps w/reduced arm swing

Question 10

How does Parkinson’s Disease affect gait?

Answer 10

small shuffled steps w/reduced arm swing
flexed posture

Question 11

Trendelenburg gait

Answer 11

glute medius weakness

Question 12

How does a R positive Trendelenburg change gait?

Answer 12

L pelvis drops & trunk lurches toward R stance limb to compensate for weakness

Question 13

Lurch gait

Answer 13

Glue maximus weakness

Question 14

How is gait changed with a lurch deviation?

Answer 14

trunk leans backward to achieve hip extension

results in increased time on stance limb

Question 15

Foot Slap

• describe
• impairment
• compensations

Answer 15

rapid ankle PF after heel contact

due to DF weakness

causes toe extension, increased hip flexion & circumduction

Question 16

Foot Flat

• describe
• impairment
• compensations

Answer 16

During heel strike, the plantar-surface makes contact with the ground instead of the heel

due to DF weakness

causes excessive hip & knee flexion

Question 17

Initial contact w/forefoot (heel follows)

• describe
• impairment
• compensations

Answer 17

forefoot makes contact with the ground instead of the heel during initial contact

due to DF weakness

causes excessive hip & knee flexion

Question 18

Initial contact w/forefoot (heel follows, but w/post tibial displacement)

• describe
• impairment
• compensations

Answer 18

knee hyperextension followed by heel contact

due to PF contracture or spasticity

causes hip flexion & forward trunk lean

Question 19

Initial contact w/forefoot (no heel contact)

• describe
• impairment
• compensations

Answer 19

forefoot makes contact during initial contact instead of heel

pain, calcaneal fx, plantar fasciitis

knee & hip kept in flexion

Question 20

Premature heel elevation (mid/terminal stance)

• describe
• impairment

Answer 20

heel rises early

lack of ankle DF

Question 21

Supination (stance phase)

• describe
• impairment

Answer 21

foot remains in supination rather than going into pronation during stance phase

pes cavus

Question 22

Pronation (stance phase)

• describe
• impairment

Answer 22

excessive pronation that increases weight-bearing on medial side

pes planus or ankle invertor weakness

Question 23

Drop Foot

• describe
• impairment

Answer 23

decreased DF

DF weakness

Question 24

Vaulting

• describe
• impairment

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Excess Toe Out - describe - impairment

Answer 25

excessive ER or outward foot angle during stance retroversion of the femur, tight hip ER or excessive ER of the LE

Question 26

Excess Toe In - describe - impairment

Answer 26

reduced foot angle during stance phase "pigeon-toe" excessive anteversion of the femur, spasticity or excessive IR of the hip adductors and IR

Question 27

Knee Extension (after IC) "Extensor Thrust" - describe - impairment - compensation

Answer 27

knee locks in hyperextension after IC spasticity of quadriceps trunk flexion

Question 28

Knee Extension (LR) w/o Extensor Thrust - describe - impairment - compensation

Answer 28

knee is held in prolonged extension during LR to reduce the need for quadriceps quadriceps weakness or knee pain trunk flexion

Question 29

Genu Recurvatum - describe - impairment - compensation

Answer 29

knee hyperextension during stance phase quadricep weakness trunk flexion

Question 30

Flexed Knee (stance phase) - describe - impairment - compensation

Answer 30

knee flexion knee flexion contracture or hamstring spasticity increased hip flexion & DF

Question 31

Reduced/Absent Knee Flexion (swing phase) - describe - impairment - compensation

Answer 31

knee flexion & DF reduced during swing phase quadriceps spasticity or knee extensor contracture hip circumduction or hip hiking

Question 32

Forward Trunk Lean (mid/terminal stance) - describe - impairment

Answer 32

excessive trunk flexion due to mid/terminal stance to compensate for a lack of hip extension hip flexion contracture or pain

Question 33

Circumduction - describe - impairment

Answer 33

use of adductors & abductors to complete a semi-circle movement hip flexor weakness

Question 34

Forward trunk lean (loading response) - describe - impairment

Answer 34

use of body weight to extend knee quadriceps weakness

Question 35

Excess hip/knee flexion (swing phase)

Answer 35

increased flexion at the hip to shorten a long limb leg length discrepancy due to lack of ankle DF or PF contracture

Question 36

Hip hiking

Answer 36

Elevation of the ipsilateral pelvis or hip during swing to raise the affected limb up in an effort to clear the foot.