Gait Treatment Flashcards
there is no evidence to support what?
achievement of a more normal pattern of movement may decrease metabolic or mechanical costs or reduce balance problems for disabled individuals or ultimately facilitate functional outcomes
why cant a typical gait pattern be the standard?
there are real changes in the pathways, processes, and structures necessary for ambulation
what should you judge instead of gait pattern?
efficacy of your patients movement strategies by asking “are they meeting the demands of the task in the face of these impairments”
treatment of walking function
- knowledge of the control of walking
- normal movement may not be the goal
knowledge of the control of walking
- the movement system is more likely organized around task-level requirements of walking vs. movement patterns
- ask daniela to clarify rest of this
normal movement may not be the goal
need functional movement that meets as many (and/or an optimal combination) of the requirements
Goal of Gait Training
assist the patient in developing skilled walking that meets the requirements of progression, stability adaptability, long term viability, and long distance travel
skilled walking implies that the rehabilitation of walking function include:
- ambulation indoors within a relatively stable environment
- ambulation in the real world
- outdoors, community, neighborhood, work, school, playground (but not all patients will be community ambulators)
what should you do if the goal is to improve gait?
practice gait
warning about treating impairments
In a task-oriented approach, the PT helps the patient resolve specific impairments constraining walking (requirements).
Early intervention
- achieve upright and ambulate as early as possible
- Tilt tables in acute care; sit to stand; stand with assist
Partial task v. whole task training
- what works/ what doesn’t?
- Whole practice (with high repetition of steps) works to improve gait speed and distance
- Circuit-like training (strengthening, cardio, balance (part) training) may also be considered
Part practice aka pre gait activities
- Postural alignment in standing: Trunk control (‘look up’, assistive devices, manual cues).
- Stability in standing: Extensor moment of LE; extensor activity to prevent collapse.
- Weight shifting in standing
- Stepping forward and back in standing
what should you encourage when seeking successful solutions
- flexibility
- how many ways can you get up the stairs?
Dual - Task locomotor training
- Gait speed (and other s-t parameters) are affected by attention to additional motor or cognitive tasks
- Apply attention (motor or cognitive task) to environments of increasing challenge
Clinicians SHOULD perform: (chronic)
- Walking training at moderate to high aerobic intensities (aerobic priming and massed practice)
- Walking training with virtual reality
clinicians may consider: (chronic)
- Strength training at ≥70% 1 rep max
- Circuit training, cycling, or recumbent stepping at 75-85% HRmax
- Balance training with virtual reality
clinicians SHOULD NOT perform:
- Static or dynamic standing balance activities including pre-gait
- BWSTT with emphasis on kinematics
- Robot-assisted gait training
big 3 neuro learning principles for gait?
specificity, repetition, intensity
to improve walking function in ambulatory patients with stroke, incomplete spinal cord injury and brain injury, should therapists focus on normalizing kinematics?
no
what type of training addresses specificity, repetition, and intensity?
high intensity gait training
typical gait pattern of a person with hemiparesis
- slow (potential >50% slower than normal, increased double support time)
- step length asymmetry -> some larger, some shorter
- increased weight bearing on the unaffected leg with decreased stance time on the affected leg
swing in a person with hemiparesis
- decreased affected hip and knee flexion
- Sometimes circumduction and/or hip hiking
stance in a person with hemiparesis
- Lack of controlled knee flexion with knee hyperextension
- Pelvic drop on unaffected side
- Lack of hip extension and ankle dorsiflexion
about how many people with hemiparetic gait can become independent by 6 mo?
65-85%
large variability in steps per day