intro to gait Flashcards
list the 3 requirements for gait?
- support head, arms, and trunk by maintaining a semirigid lower limb
- maintain upright posture and balance
- controls the foot to allow it to clear obstacles and enables gentle heel or toe loading through eccentric muscle action
what are the two main tasks for walking/gait?
- generates mechanical energy by concentric muscle contraction to initiate, maintain and if desired, forward velocity
- provides shock absorption and stability and decreases forward velocity of the body
what age does gait start to become regular?
around age 7
what do toddlers beginning to walk resemble?
an elderly person
what are the functional tasks accomplished in normal gait?
forward progression, balance, and support of the upright body
what is the gait cycle?
the sequence of motion that includes one stance and one swing phase on the same limb. also could be described as ipsilateral heel strike to heel strike
what are the two phases of the gait cycle?
stance and swing
what percent is the stance phase?
60%
what percent is the swing phase?
40%
what are the stages in the traditional gait cycle?
heel strike, foot flat, midstance, heel off, acceleration, midswing, deceleration, heel strike.
what are the stages in the swing phase?
initial swing (acceleration), midswing, and terminal swing (deceleration)
what are the stages in the stance phase?
initial contact (heel strike), load response (foot flat), midstance (single leg stance), terminal stance (heel off), and preswing (toe off)
where is the center of gravity approximately located?
2 inches anterior to the second sacral vertebrae
what are some contributing factors to common gait deviations?
pain/discomfort during weight bearing
muscle weakness/tone abnormalities
limitation of joint ROM
incoordination of movement
changes in bone or soft tissue
where may compensations for injury or pathology occur?
on the contralateral limb or ipsilateral limb
what is an antalgic gait?
pain in the lower extremities that causes a limp. may see a shortened stance phase relative to the swing phase of the affected side
what is a trendelenburg gait?
weakness in the glute medius muscle that causes movement pattern changes in the contralteral hip during swing phase
what is an uncompensated gait?
contralateral hip drop; lean away from weak side
what is a compensated gait?
contralateral hip hike displacing the center of mass over the axis or rotation on the affected side; lean towards/over weak side
what is a hemiparetic gait?
changes in gait pattern from normal that may include decreased cadence, prolonged swing duration on the paretic side, prolonged stance duration on the nonparetic side, and step length asymmetry
what is a scissoring gait?
increased muscle tone of the adductor muscles that causes the knees and thighs to be pressed together or crossing each other while walking
what is a circumduction gait?
weakness of the hip flexors, contralateral hip dysfunction, or leg length discrepancy that causes a combination of hip hiking, forward rotation of the pelvis, and abduction of the hip
what is vaulting gait?
ankle dorsiflexion weakness or leg length discrepancy requiring plantar flexion of the contralateral ankle during the single-limb support phase to assist swing leg clearance
what is foot slap gait?
ankle dorsiflexion weakness causing the forefoot to rapidly decent during initial contact; or no ankle dorsiflexion clearance during swing which results in a steppage gait
what is an ataxic gait?
a failure of muscle coordination causing an irregular foot placement, wide base, and instability during ambulation
what is a festinating gait?
often observed in those with parkinson’s diagnosis; gait appears shuffling, it is slow with a short step length and a narrow base, also present, a difficulty performing smooth turning or freezing at obstacles or passing through narrow areas such as doors
describe non weight bearing (NWB)
0% involved LE does not touch the ground
describe toe touch weight bearing (TTWB)
for balance only, foot may rest on the floor but no weight bearing. must maintain hip and knee flexion on involved LE
describe partial weight bearing (PWB)
20-50% body weight in stance phase as per MD orders. interpretations vary
describe weight bearing as tolerated (WBAT)
50-100% limited only by patients tolerance
