Gait Quiz Flashcards
What is gait?
Manner of walking
What is the gait cycle?
Cyclic pattern of engagement of muscles and joints when walking
When does a mature gait pattern appear?
Age 7
When does gait cycle start and end?
Start: one heel strikes the ground
Ends: same heel strikes ground
What is stride?
one cycle of the gait cycle (a left step and a right step)
When does step begin and end?
Begin: When heel of other foot strikes ground
Ends: When its own heel strikes the ground
When does stance phase begin and end?
Begin: at heel-strike
Ends: at toe-off
When does swing phase begin and end?
Begin: at toe-off
Ends: at heel-strike
What is step length?
Length between 2 consecutive heel strikes (length of a step)
Average step length of an adult?
28 inches (72 cm)
What is step width?
Width between the centers of 2 consecutive heel strikes
Average step width of an adult?
3 inches (7-9 cm)
What is step angulation?
Angle created between the direction in which one is moving and the long axis of the foot
What is a normal step angulation?
~7-10 deg
What is the normal pace of walking?
~100 steps/min (2.5 mph [4 kph])
Each foot strikes the ground how many times per day?
2000-10,000
Each foot strikes the ground how many times per day?
2000-10,000
Stance phase (5)
- Heel-strike
- Foot-flat
- Midstance
- Heel-off
- Toe-off
Why do you want the foot to be open-packed (pronation/eversion) in the early stages of stance?
So it can adapt to the uneven surface of the ground; pronation allows arches to collapse
Why do you want the foot to be close-packed (supination/inversion) in the late stages of stance?
Foot must be stiff and stable to propel the body forward; supination holds the arches high and creates a more rigid foot
What gives the foot the ability to change from being supple (pronate) to rigid (supination)
Laxity/tautness of plantar fascia (windlass mechanism)
What is the windlass mechanism?
Creates the ability of plantar fascia to become lax or taut; when extension occurs at MTP joints, fascia is pulled taut around these joints and tension is transferred to the arches, causing them to rise
What is the windlass mechanism?
Creates the ability of plantar fascia to become lax or taut; when extension occurs at MTP joints, fascia is pulled taut around these joints and tension is transferred to the arches, causing them to rise
Heel-strike is the landmark that begins _____ and ends ____
begins stance phase
ends swing phase
What is foot-flat?
When entire plantar surface is in contact with ground
What is midstance?
When weight of body is directly over lower extremity (greater trochanter above middle of foot)
What is midstance?
When weight of body is directly over lower extremity (greater trochanter above middle of foot)
Toe-off is the landmark that ends _____ and begins _____
ends stance phase
begins swing phase
Swing phase begins with ____ and ends with ____
begins with toe-off
ends with heel-strike
Swing phase (3)
- Early swing
- Mid-swing
- Late swing
Stance phase and swing phase make up how much of the gait cycle (%)
Stance: 60%
Swing: 40%
What is double-limb support?
When both feet are in contact with the ground
What is double-limb support?
When both feet are in contact with the ground
What distinguishes walking from running?
The presence of double-limb support
Lower extremity contractions during gait cycle (3)
- Concentric contraction to create motion
- Eccentric contraction to decelerate momentum
- Isometric contraction to stabilize & prevent motion
During the early to middle stages of the stance phase, muscles are primarily ____ contracting
eccentrically
During the middle to late stages of the stance phase, muscles are primarily ____ contracting
concentrically