Movement Analysis - Gait

Question 1

What General Observations can be made for Gait? (7)

Answer 1

1. Independant?
2. Type of surface
3. General posture - is it flexed?
4. Speed
5. Cadence (# steps per min)
6. Stride Length
7. Arm Swing

Question 2

What are the components of Gait?

Answer 2

Stance Phase (60%)

1. Heel strike
2. Foot flat
3. Mid stance
4. Heel off
5. Toe off

Swing Phase (40%)

1. Early swing
2. Mid swing
3. Late swing

Question 3

What movements occur in the heel strike phase and what muscles cause this?

Answer 3

1. 30 degrees hip flexion - eccentric glutes and hamstrings
2. 15 degrees knee flexion - eccentric hamstrings
3. Ankle in plantargrade - isometric tibialis anterior
4. Pelvis neutral - glutes with ROI

Question 4

What movements occur in the foot flat phase and what muscles cause this?

Answer 4

1. Hip extends to approx 10 degrees flexion - concentric hamstrings and glutes
2. Knee braced in slight flexion - eccentric quads
3. Ankle into slight plantarflexion - eccentric tibialis anterior

Question 5

What movements occur in the mid-stance phase and what muscles cause this?

Answer 5

1. Hip continues to move through extension to neutral - concentric hamstrings and glutes
2. Knee moves to extension (0 degrees) - concentric quads
3. Ankle in plantargrade - co-contraction of gastroc and soleus, and tibialis anterior with ROI
4. Pelvis drops 5 degrees towards swing side - eccentric glutes with ROI

Question 6

What movements occur in the heel off phase and what muscles cause this?

Answer 6

1. Hip very close to extension- concentric glues and hamstrings (eccentric hip flexors to slow and control movement)
2. Knee in extension - concentric quads
3. Ankle moves into plantarflexion - concentric gastroc and soleus
4. Pelvis returns to neutral - concentric glutes with ROI

Question 7

What movements occur in the toe off phase and what muscles cause this?

Answer 7

1. Full hip extension reached, followed by hip flexion - eccentric hip flexors for toe off - become concentric during swing phase
2. Knee flexion - partly passive due to hip flexion - concentric hamstrings
3. Ankle plantarflexion - concentric gastroc and soleus
4. Pelvis remains neutral - concentric abductors with ROI

Question 8

What movements occur in the early swing phase and what muscles cause this?

Answer 8

1. Hip flexion - concentric iliopsoas and rectus femoris
2. Knee flexion - concentric hamstrings
3. Passive recoil of gastroc and soleus = plantarflexion
4. Pelvis drops 5 degrees and medially rotates towards stance leg - concentric glutes with ROI

Question 9

What movements occur in the mid swing phase and what muscles cause this?

Answer 9

1. Hip moves into flexion - concentric iliopsoas and rectus femoris
2. Knee increases in flexion - to 70 degrees - concentric hamstrings
3. Ankle dorsiflexion to clear toe from floor - concentric tibialis anterior

Question 10

What movements occur in the late swing phase and what muscles cause this?

Answer 10

1. Hip flexion continues but is decellerating - eccentric glute maximus and hamstrings
2. Knee moves into extension - eccentric hamstrings
3. Isometric dorsiflexion to prepare for heel stroke - isometric tibialis anterior
4. Pelvis becomes level - isometric glutes with ROI on stance leg