neurologic gait assessment

Question 1

impairments in neurologic disorders

Answer 1

• abnormal tone
• loss of selective motor control (synergy, ataxia)
• sensory loss (proprioception, tactile)
• alignment
• balance or postural control
• contractures (gastroc/soleus)
• walking speed
• timing of muscular activation
• cognition
• visual awareness (scanning of surroundings)

Question 2

what side should you stand on when gait training with neuro pts

Answer 2

the involved side

Question 3

what does the pt need to have in order to start gait training

Answer 3

• ability to understand and follow direction
• trunk control and righting reactions
• protective responses

Question 4

when would you train on the parallel bars?

Answer 4

if pt is unable to weight bear or load

Question 5

when would you gait train with a cane or quad cane

Answer 5

when the pt is able to properly advance

Question 6

PT position with neuro clients

Answer 6

stand on the involved side with wide BOS, move with the pt

Question 7

specific gait problems with CVA

Answer 7

• loss of heel contact
• knee wobbling in LR
• loss of hip extension in midstance
• no heel off or knee flexion in terminal stance
• lack of knee flexion in swing
• loss of knee extension and DF in terminal swing

Question 8

how to write a gait functional statement (doing an observational gait analysis

Answer 8

• DX
• supervision
• assistive device used
• gait pattern
• type of surface
• gait velocity and the norms for the pt age

Question 9

what you should work on with a CVA pt in gait

Answer 9

1) increasing time in single leg stance
2) increase knee flexion during midswing
3) PF rom
4) standing balance

Question 10

PD gait characteristics

Answer 10

• reduced step length
• amplitude of arm swing: earliest gait detection
• interlimb asymmetries
• increased duration in double time
• reduced gait width
• shuffling steps: festinating gait
• Freezing of fait (FOG)

Question 11

scissoring gait in peds

Answer 11

• feet are crossing over each other
• hip adduction
• hip adductors are acting as hip flexors

Question 12

crouch walking in peds

Answer 12

• toes turning internal rotation of the hip

Question 13

hyperextension low lone in peds

Answer 13

• knee hyperextension
• use arms to swing to maintain balance

Question 14

Equinus Gait pattern seen in CP

Answer 14

• unable to effective weight bear
• does not posess balance or postural contorl
• significant equinus (toe talking): due to weakness and abnormal tone
• forefoot contact throughout whole gait pattern
• internal roation
• tibia torsion