Locomotion Flashcards
What are the five skeletal components which make up the Locomotor System?
Bones Muscles Joints Tendons Ligaments
What is Cox Valga?
A hip deformity, where the angle between head and shaft of femur is greater than 135 degrees
State five things which can alter a person’s gait
- Structural damage
- Aging
- Inflammatory / degenerative conditions
- Footwear
- Neurological conditions
What is the definition of a “Stride”?
The distance between one footstep and the same footstep again
How is the Running Pattern different to the Walking Pattern?
The Running Pattern at some point involves both feet off the ground simultaneously
What is the Myopathic gait also known as?
Waddling gait
What is the definition of a “Step”?
The distance between one footstep and the next footstep
Define “torque”
When skeletal muscles contract, the bones they are attached to rotate around a joint. This rotational force is called “torque”
Briefly outline the two components involved in the nervous control of the Locomotor System
- Receptors in muscles and joints provide the brain with information about the body position and movement
- The cerebellum is involved in:
a) motor correction based on sensory/proprioceptive input
b) motor learning based on improving performance of motor sequence with repetition
c) balance based on coordination of muscle systems throughout the body
The Walking Pattern can be divided into two phases, what are they called and briefly describe them?
The Stance Phase - where the foot is in contact with the ground
The Swing Phase - where the foot is not in contact with the ground
What are the five muscle types distinguished in the Locomotor System? Describe each one
- Agonistic: Muscles causing movement through own contraction
- Antagonistic: Muscles which oppose movement
- Concentric: Muscles shortening in length during contraction
- Eccentric: Muscles increasing in length during contraction
- Synergistic: Muscles which perform / help to perform the same motion as an agonist
Tendons joint what… to what..?
Tendons connect muscle to bone
What are the four sub movements within the Stance phase of Walking?
- Heel strike
- Loading response
- Mid stance
- Terminal stance
Ligaments joint what…. to what…?
Ligaments connect bone to bone
What is the definition for the Human Gait Cycle?
It is defined as the period from heel strike to the next time that same heel strikes again
State six abnormal types of gait
- Antalgic
- Ataxic
- Parkinsonian
- Myopathic / Waddling
- Neuropathic / High stepping
- Trendelenburg
Describe the antalgic gait
A gait which reduces weight on the affected limb, by decreasing the stance phase time / joint forces to avoid on weight bearing limb. Lengthens swing phase time by increasing step length.
Can be caused by “stone in your shoe”, diabetic foot, gout, ingrown toenails, trauma, joint / limb deformity, osteoarthritis
What is Cox Vara?
A hip deformity, where the angle between head and shaft of femur is less than 120 degrees
Cerebral palsy can be associated with which hip deformity?
Cox Valga
Describe the neuropathic gait
Also known as the high stepping gait, is seen in peripheral nerve disease. Distal lower limbs are mostly affected, and because the dorsiflexors are weak, patient “steps high” in an attempt to avoid dragging their toes
What are the four sub movements within the Swing phase of Walking?
- Pre-swing
- Initial swing
- Mid-swing
- Terminal swing
Describe the Parkinsonian gait
Seen in Parkinson’s disease, the patient moves with short accelerating steps often on tip toe, with the trunk of body flexed forwards and legs flexed stiffly at the hips / knees
What is the Neuropathic gait also known as?
High stepping gait
Describe the Trendelenburg gait
It is caused by hip dislocation or hip paralysis. Prevents ineffective functioning of the small gluteal muscles
What are the eight types of motion generated through muscle, and briefly describe them
- Flexion: Reduction of the angle at the joint
- Extension: Increasing of the angle at the joint
- Abduction: Bringing the limb AWAY from midline
- Adduction: Bringing the limb TOWARDS the midline
- Dorsiflexion: Rotating around ankle joint, points toes up
- Planararflexion: Rotating around ankle joint, points toes down
- Supination: Outward roll of limb away from midline
- Pronation: Inward roll of limb towards midline
Which deformity can cause the Myopathic / Waddling gait? Cox Vara or Cox Valga?
Cox Vara
