Gait, Stairs & Running Flashcards
what is stride length?
the distance between heel strike to heel strike of the SAME leg
what is step length?
the distance between the heel strike of one leg to the heel strike of the OPPOSITE leg
which term constitutes an entire gait cycle?
stride length
what is step width?
horizontal distance between the heel centers of consecutive heel strikes
what is foot angle?
the amount of toe out; angle between line of progression of the body and long axis of the foot
what is stride time?
the time it takes to cover one full stride, or gait cycle (right heel strike to next right heel strike)
what is step time?
the time it takes to cover one step (right heel strike to left heel strike)
what is cadence, or step rate when referring to gait?
steps per minute
do men or women tend to have a higher step rate?
women
what is the average step rate?
110 steps per minute
how is walking speed calculated? what is the average walking speed?
(1) step length x step rate
2) 1.37 m/sec (3 mph
what are the average step length, stride length, and step width?
(1) step length: 72 cm (28 inches)
(2) stride length: 144 cm
(3) step width: 8-10 cm
what percentage of the gait is spent in the stance phase? what percentage is spent in the swing phase?
60% stance
40% swing
in abnormal gait patterns due to injury or pathology, what is typically increased to walk faster, step rate or step length?
step rate
what are the RLA (Rancho Los Amigos) phases of gait and their corresponding percentage of the gait cycle?
(1) inital contact: 0%
(2) loading response: 0-10%
(3) mid stance: 10-30%
(4) terminal stance: 30-50%
(5) pre swing: 50-60%
(6) initial swing: 60-75%
(7) mid swing: 75-85%
(8) terminal swing: 85-100%
what is the traditional nomenclature used for gait?
(1) heel strike
(2) foot flat
(3) mid stance
(4) heel off
(5) toe off
(6) acceleration
(7) mid swing
(8) deceleration
when the right limb is at 25% of the gait cycle, what percentage of the gait cycle should the left leg be at?
75%
what are the purposes of normal gait? (5)
(1) weight acceptance
(2) single limb support
(3) swing limb advancement
(4) generate mechanical energy to move forward
(5) absorb energy for shock absorption and stability
how is foot angle measured? what is considered a normal foot angle?
(1) center of heel to 2nd metatarsal
(2) 5-7 degrees
how fast does a person need to walk in order to cross a street safely?
> 1.3 m/s
what walking speed is a person considered a fall risk?
< 0.7 m/s
what walking speed is a person dependent? independent?
(1) dependent: < 0.4 m/s
(2) independent: > 0.9 m/s
during normal walking, what muscles expend the most energy? what muscles expend the least energy?
FROM MOST TO LEAST
1) plantar flexors (most
(2) hip flexors
(3) hip extensors
(4) hip abductors
(5) knee extensors (least)
when the foot is flat during initial contact or the loading response, where does this indicate weakness?
dorsiflexors
what clinical populations commonly have trouble dorsiflexing their foot? (3)
(1) stroke
(2) L4 nerve root compression
(3) common peroneal nerve injury (fracture of fibular head)
what compensations will be observed in a patient with foot drop? (2)
(1) excessive knee flexion
(2) excessive hip flexion
when the heel remains in contact with the ground late in the terminal stance, where does this indicate weakness?
plantar flexors
what clinical populations commonly have trouble plantar flexing their foot? (2)
(1) achilles tendon tear
(2) peripheral or CNS (S1, S2) damage
when initial contact occurs at the forefore, what are potential causes for this gait deviation? (3) what are common patient populations with this gait deviation? (4)
CAUSES (1) heel pain (2) plantar flexion contracture (3) spasticity POPULATIONS (1) ankle fracture (2) plantar fasciitis (3) stroke (4) CP
when initial contact occurs at the forefore AND the heel makes contact at midstance, what are potential causes for this gait deviation? (2)
what are common patient populations with this gait deviation? (3)
CAUSES (1) pes equinus (2) spasticity POPULATIONS (1) congenital abnormality (2) stroke (3) CP
what compensations will be observed in a patient with a plantarflexor contracture? (2)
(1) knee hyperextension (midstance)
(2) forward trunk lean (terminal stance
what compensations will be observed in a patient with weak knee extensors? (1)
forward trunk lean (increased hip and trunk flexion)
this is to move the COM anterior to the knee’s axis of rotation
what compensations will be observed in a patient with a knee flexion contracture? (2)
(1) excessive contralateral knee flexion
(2) excessive contralateral hip flexion
what compensations will be observed in a patient with functional shortening of a leg? (1)
vaulting (exaggerated plantarflexion) of the contralateral leg
what compensations will be observed in a patient with reduced knee flexion AND/OR dorsiflexion? (1)
hip circumduction
what compensations will be observed in a patient with weak hip extensors? (1) what population is this common in? (1)
(1) extend the lumbar spine
(this is done to prevent trunk flexion, because hip extensors control flexion moments)
(2) polio