Locomotion Flashcards
Locomotion
the movement of the body
The difference in walking and running
Walking – period of time where one limb is in contact with the ground at any given time
Running – periods where both limbs are off the ground, whole body in space
Mechanics of climbing stairs, How is COG maintained?
If moving in decent, you move your body weight away from you.
If going uphill, bodyweight in front of you.
Shows there is a conscious shift of CG in relation to gradient of surface you’re walking on.
Therefore, if some people have problems with their knees or hips like osteoarthritic changes – CG immediately affected and a difficulty walking down/climbing stairs.
What makes the pelvis unique
Force distributed dispersal mechanism, takes all the weight going from the head, trunk, upper extremities, spine and disperses it equally across the whole pelvic girdle and down the two legs.
Pelvis also disperses and distributes Ground forces coming up from feet through the lower limbs evenly across pelvic gridle, so it doesn’t just hit the lumbar spine full on.
Absorbs and supports force.
Modified synovial – half synovial, half fibrous. L shaped anteriorly which provides its very stable structure. SI joint also angelates within those structures.
Fibrous part – made up of incredibly tough stabilising ligaments. Stabilise from posterior side, Lumbar-sacral angle, where L5 meets the sacrum, is huge. These ligaments help stabilise and lock the ilia and Lsp onto the sacrum.
Pelvis locomotion
Pivot point for pelvis in force coupling occurs around acetabular socket and hip.
Must therefore look at the anterior & posterior musculature and then the superior & inferior musculature of each anterior and posterior.
Pelvis locomotion Soft tissue relationship
Anterior superior – abdominal muscles
Anterior inferior – Hip flexors deep & superficial
Superior posterior – Erector spinae muscles, QL, Lats
Posterior inferior – Hamstrings
Push/pull between the anterior, posterior and superior, inferior that directly affects force coupling, the rotation that’s going through the pelvis
Why do most problems in the body occur?
Due to a biomechanical disbalance. Something is either too strong/weak or too long/short. In most cases it is a combination of all of these.
How is unilateral stance (standing on one leg) maintained
- To maintain the single limb support there must be a counter torque of equal weight of the head and torso and other leg to stop pelvis dropping
- Hip abductors (QL, Glutes Medius, minimus, TFL band) must generate approx 3 x BW to maintain unilateral stance
- Side bending toward stance leg reduces the need for hip abductor force (to produce counter torque)
- This loading occurs as a result of both ground reaction force and muscular contraction
- Primary weight bearing area on acetabulum located on superior portion, this area must accommodate both ground reaction forces and muscular contraction
Body in counter torque from glute of standing leg
Stabilise the pelvis and stop it dropping/weakness
Hip adductors maintain stance (3xBW)
Abductors forced to keep upright- dec force- SB to standing leg= counter torque
Loading= result of ground reaction forces and muscular contraction
Weight is an equal ground reaction force through acetabulum= stationary, with muscular contraction (glutes, hamstrings, quads)
Popliteus- locks knee in flexion/standing to maintain stability
What test does the theory behind unilateral stance prove effective?
Trendelenburg’s test – Pelvis drooping to one side
Unilateral stance primarily on acetabulum, mainly focused on the posterior half which has to accommodate for ground force reaction and muscular contraction.
Failure in the musculature structures to do their job may lead to acetabular impingement or labral tear.
‘Q’ angle
quadratus angle – angle of the femur in relation to the hip and the knee.
Larger in women – approx 18deg, as women have a predominantly larger and wider pelvis
Men – 13deg
Dynamic Q angle
When the Q angle changes in relation to what activity you are doing
Will also change based on joint changes like osteoarthritis changes in knee or hip – more likely to have an auto Q angle as femur is trying to find a more comfortable position.
Femoral angle of inclination
Anatomical measurement that describes the angle between the neck of the femur and the shaft of the femur. The angle of inclination determines the alignment of the femur with respect to the pelvis and the hip joint. It has significance due to its influence on the function and stability of the hip joint
Significance of the femoral angle of inclination
Affects the weight-bearing forces and the distribution of stress across the hip joint during activities such as walking, running, and weightlifting. An optimal angle of inclination contributes to the biomechanical stability of the hip joint, ensuring efficient transmission of forces and minimising the risk of injury.
Difference between a healthy Q angle and a dysfunctional one
In healthy Q angle, as you run leg making contact with ground forces stays straight and forces travel up in a straight line through whole lower limb.
If you have issues or imbalances with the musculature or there are structural anomalies at the hip, knee or ankle then this can create an abnormal dysfunctional Q angle like the left image. This can cause problems with locomotion.
Purpose of patella
- Patella increases the leverage available to Quadriceps’ muscle group.
- It helps provide the maximum amount of torque available during 20-60 degrees of flexion.
- During knee flexion there is compression at the Patellofemoral joint.
- 3.3 time body weight going upstairs and 7.7 times going downstairs.
- This stabilised by cruciate ligaments
- ACL/PCL control anterior posterior sliding at the knee
