Gait Deviations Prosthetic/Anatomical

Question 1

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Abducted gait: Prosthesis laterally displaced

Answer 1

Possible causes:
Crotch/medial wall discomfort
Long prosthesis
Low lateral wall or malalignment/poorly shaped
Tight hip abductors
Prosthesis positioned in abduction
Inadequate suspension
Improper training
Pain over lateral stump
Adductor roll
Weak hip flexors/adductors

Question 2

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Vaulting

Answer 2

Possible causes:
Prosthesis too long
Socket too small
Inadequate suspension
Prosthetic foot in too much PF
Too little knee flxn
Stump discomfort
Improper training
Fear of stubbing toe
Painful hip/stump

Question 3

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Lateral trunk bend during stance

Answer 3

Possible causes:
Low/improperly shaped lateral wall
Prosthesis short or aligned in abduction
High medial wall
Weak abductors on prosthetic side
Abductor contracture
Hip pain
Short stump
Improper training
Hypersensitive/painful stump

Question 4

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Fwd flxn during stance

Answer 4

Possible causes:
Unstable knee unit
Short ambulatory aids
Hip flexion contracture
Socket too big
Poor suspension
Weak hip extensors
Pain with ischial WB
Inability to initiate prosthetic knee flxn

Question 5

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Lumbar lordosis during stance

Answer 5

Possible causes:
Insufficient support from anterior/posterior walls
Painful ischial WB
Hip flxn contracture
Weak hip extensors/abdominals

Question 6

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: High heel rise

Answer 6

Possible causes:
Inadequate knee friction
Too little tension in extension aid

Question 7

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Terminal swing impact

Answer 7

Possible causes:
Inadequate knee friction
Too much tension in extension aid
Pt fears knee will buckle
Forceful hip flxn

Question 8

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Swing phase whips

Answer 8

Possible causes:
Socket is rotated
Knee bolt is rotated
Foot is malaligned
Tight socket fit
Valgus in prosthetic knee
Improper alignment of toe break
Improper training
Weak hip rotators
Knee instability

Question 9

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Foot rotation at heel strike

Answer 9

Possible causes:
Foot is malaligned (excessive toe-out)
Stiff heel cushion
Stiff PF bumper
Loose socket
Inadequate suspension
Poor muscle control/improper training
Weak medial rotators
Short stump

Question 10

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Foot slap

Answer 10

Possible causes:

Heel cushion or PF bumper too soft.

Question 11

TF Prosthetic gait deviations: Uneven step length

Answer 11

Possible causes:
Socket discomfort or poor alignment
Hip flxn contracture
Hip instability

Question 12

TT Prosthetic gait deviations: Excessive knee flexion during stance

Answer 12

Possible causes:
Knee socket may be aligned too far fwd or tilted anteriorly
PF bumper is too hard limiting PF
High-heel shoe
Knee/hip flexion contracture 
Weak quads
Stiff heel
Foot set in excessive DF
Prosthesis too long
Pain anteriorly in residual limb
Poor balance

Question 13

TT Prosthetic gait deviations: Inadequate knee flexion during stance

Answer 13

Possible cause:
Socket aligned too far posteriorly or tilted back
PF bumper or heel cushion too soft
Low heel shoe
Anterodistal discomfort
Weak quads

Question 14

TT Prosthetic gait deviations: Lateral thrust at midstance

Answer 14

Possible causes:

Foot is inset too much

Question 15

TT Prosthetic gait deviations: Medial thrust at midstance

Answer 15

Possible causes:

Foot is outset too much

Question 16

TT Prosthetic gait deviations: Drop-off or premature knee flexion in late stance

Answer 16

Possible causes:
Socket set too far fwd or too flexed
DF bumper too soft
Prosthetic foot keel too short
Knee flexion contracture

Question 17

TT Prosthetic gait deviations: Delayed knee flexion during late stance

Answer 17

Patient feels as if they’re “walking uphill”. Possible causes:
Socket set too far back or lacks sufficient flexion
DF bumper too stiff causeing excess PF
Foot keel too long