Gait Deviations

Question 1

What are some causes of medial whip?

Answer 1

Px: ER of knee, tight socket, mis-aligned toe break
Amp: gait habit, ER or flexion of hip at toe-off

Question 2

What are some causes of lateral whip?

Answer 2

Px: IR of knee, loose socket, mis-aligned toe break
Amp: gait habit, IR of hip at toe off

Question 3

What are some causes of abducted gait?

Answer 3

Px: prosthesis too long, medial wall too high, insufficient femoral stability, induced medial whip
Amp: abduction contracture, poor gait habit, insecure

Question 4

What are some causes of circumducted gait?

Answer 4

Px: long prosthesis, excessive knee friction, excessive knee stability
Amp: lack of confidence in flexing knee, adbduction contracture, weak hip flexors, habit

Question 5

What are some causes of vaulting?

Answer 5

Px: long prosthesis, poor suspension, excessive plantarflexion, excessive knee resistance or stability
Amp:gait habit, fear of catching toe, weak or improper hip flexors on residual limb

Question 6

What are some causes of heel rise?

Answer 6

Px: inadequate extension aid, insufficient knee friction, improper knee selection
Amp: excessive use of hip flexors to initiate swing, overpowering knee unit

Question 7

What are some causes of knee instability?

Answer 7

Px: excessive dorsiflexion, knee unstable, insufficient socket flexion, mal-alignment of foot
Amp: weak hip extensors, hip flexion contracture

Question 8

What are some causes of short prosthetic step?

Answer 8

Px: socket pain, weak extension aid, unstable knee, excessive dorsiflexion, poor suspension
Amp: patient insecurity or poor balance, weak hip

Question 9

What are some cause of long prosthetic step?

Answer 9

Px: excessive plantarflexion of foot, insufficient initial socket flexion,long toe lever arm
Amp: flexion contracture, patient insecurity, pain on sound side

Question 10

Which is more common, long or short prosthetic step?

Answer 10

Long

Question 11

What are some causes of lateral shift?

Answer 11

Px: prosthetic foot too far inset, excessive socket abduction
Amp: weak hip abductors, narrow gait base

Question 12

What are some causes of lateral trunk bend?

Answer 12

Px: foot too far outset, ineffective plantarflexion, excessive knee friction
Amp:inadequate balance, abduction contracture, short residual limb, habit

Question 13

What are some causes of toe drag?

Answer 13

Px: long prosthesis, excessive plantarflexion, excessive knee friction
Amp: weak hip abductors on sound side, poor posture, poor gait habits

Question 14

What causes excessive valgus?

Answer 14

foot too far medially

Question 15

What causes excessive varus?

Answer 15

foot placed too far laterally