L6 - Gait Flashcards
What is concentric contraction?
Muscle shortens as it contracts.
–> the most common type of muscle contraction
When you actively lift a weight or move a body part against resistance.
Example: When you curl a dumbbell during a bicep curl, the biceps shorten as you lift the weight.
What is eccentric contraction?
Muscle lengthens while still under tension.
When a muscle is resisting a force that’s greater than its contraction force, like lowering a weight slowly.
Example: When you lower the dumbbell back down in a bicep curl, your biceps are lengthening under tension, controlling the descent.
What is isometric contraction?
Muscle generates force without changing its length.
When you hold a position without moving.
Example: Holding a plank or holding a weight in a fixed position without moving it.
What is a gait cycle?
Movement beginning and ending with ground contact of the same foot (e.g. right heel strike to right heel strike).
What are the 2 parts of the gait cycle + proportion?
- Stance (~60%)
- Swing (~40%)
What is a step?
Movement of a limb (e.g. right) from ground contact of one (e.g. left) to ground contact of opposite limb (e.g. right).
What is a stride?
Movement of both limbs during 1 gait cycle (2 steps).
What is cadence?
Steps / min
What are the 2 ways to walk faster?
- Increase cadence (steps/minute)
- Increase step length
What is the difference between walking and running?
Walking: always a foot on the ground, sometimes even 2
Running: there is a flight phase = no feet on ground
Name the phases of the stance phase. (5)
- Initial contact
- Loading response
- Midstance
- Terminal stance
- Preswing
See NDC p.7 for illustration
Stance Phase
What is initial contact?
Instant the foot contacts the ground.
See NDC p.7 for illustration
Stance Phase
What is loading response?
Time period from immediately following initial contact to the lift of the contralateral extremity from the ground, during which weight shift occurs.
See NDC p.7 for illustration
Stance Phase
What is midstance?
Time interval from lift of the contralateral extremity from the ground to the point where the ankles of both extremities are aligned in the frontal (or coronal) plane.
See NDC p.7 for illustration
Stance Phase
What is terminal stance?
Period from ankle alignment in the frontal plane to just prior to initial contact of the contralateral (swinging) extremity
See NDC p.7 for illustration
Stance Phase
What is preswing?
Time interval from initial contact of the contralateral extremity to just prior to lift of the ipsilateral extremity from the ground (unloading weight)
See NDC p.7 for illustration
What phases of the stance phase have double support?
- Loading response
- Preswing
See NDC p.7 for illustration
Name the phases of the swing phase. (3)
- Initial swing
- Mid swing
- Terminal swing
See NDC p.8 for illustration
Swing Phase
What is initial swing?
Lift of the extremity from the ground to position of maximum knee flexion.
See NDC p.8 for illustration
Swing Phase
What is mid swing?
Immediately following knee flexion to vertical tibia position.
See NDC p.8 for illustration
Swing Phase
What is terminal swing?
Following vertical tibia position to just prior to initial contact”.
See NDC p.8 for illustration
What is the goal of gait?
Progress forward.
What are the goals of the stance phase? (3)
- Provide support
- Absorb shock
- Provide forward and backward force for progression
What are the goals of the swing phase? (3)
- Limb clearance
- Limb placement
- Transfer momentum