Human Gait Flashcards
What is the Human Gait?
May be defined as “ the translatory progression of the human body as a whole, produced by coordinated, rotatory movements of the body
segments”.
Why do we study the human gait?
As a foundation for analysing, identifying and correcting abnormalities in gait.
what are the 5 main tasks for walking gait?
- Maintenance of support of head, arms and trunk.
- Maintenance of upright posture and balance of the body.
- Control of the foot trajectory to achieve safe ground clearance and gentle heel or toe landing.
- Generation of the mechanical energy to maintain the present forward velocity or to increase forward velocity.
- Absorption of the mechanical energy for shock absorption and stability or to decrease the forward velocity of the body.
Function of the motion analysis system?
to track segment motion or generate 3D
anatomical coordinate data (to model several segment-body with
joint centres and centres of mass)
What are force platforms for?
to provide foot-floor forces, including position, magnitude & orientation of ground reaction forces
What is the EMG muscle system for?
To provide muscle activity information.
What is a gait cycle?
The time interval or sequence of motions which occurs between two consecutive initial contacts of the same foot, i.e., from heel strike of the right extremity to heel strike again of the right extremity.
How many percent is the stance and swing phase? (walking gait)
Stance phase = 60%
Swing Phase = 40%
When are the two periods of “double support”?
When one extremity is in contact and the other one leaves the ground.
How many percent does “double support” occupy in gait cycle?
approx 20%
How many percent is the body being supported on a single limb? (in a gait cycle)
80% of the gait cycle
What are the 5 events in the stance phase?
Heel contact, Foot Flat, Midstance, Heel-off, toe-off
What are the 4 events in the swing phase?
Acceleration, initial swing, mid-swing, deceleration,
Describe the 5 stages of the stance phase
Heel contact- Refers to the instant at which the heel touches the ground first.
Foot Flat- Refers the first point when the foot is flat on the ground, roughly at 7% of the gait cycle.
Midstance- When the entire body weight is directly over the supporting lower extremity, roughly at 30% of the gait cycle.
Heel off- When the heel is off the ground, roughly 40% of the gait cycle.
Toe off- When the toe if off the ground, roughly at 60% of the gait cycle.
Describe the 4 stages of the swing phase.
Acceleration- When the toe leaves the ground and continue until mid swing.
Initial Swing- When the toe leave the ground until knee flexion occur.
Mid-Swing - From maximum knee flexion until the tibia is in a vertical position.
Deceleration- When the limb is decelerating, preparing for heel contact.
