Session 12: Gait

Question 1

initial contact

Answer 1

hip flexed (iliopsoas), leg extended at knee (rectus femoris + other quad.s), foot dorsiflexed (ant. leg muscles

Question 2

foot takes load:

Answer 2

extension of knee (quadriceps), ankle neutral (invertors and evertors)

Question 3

Move onto ball of foot

Answer 3

hip extension (hamstrings), foot is plantar flexed (triceps surae - gastrocnemius and soleus)

first arrow in pic

Question 4

push off

Answer 4

plantar flexion of ankle (triceps surae), flexion of toes (FHL, FDL)

second arrow in pic

Question 5

Lift leg

Answer 5

hip flexed (iliopsoas, rec. fem.), knee flexed (hamstrings), foot dorsiflexed (ant leg. muscles -> TA, EHL, EDL, FT)

Question 6

swing leg

Answer 6

hip flexed (iliopsoas, rec. fem.), extension of leg at knee (quadriceps), foot dorsiflexed (ant. leg muscles

in pic, the leg hasn’t fully extended yet

Question 7

stages of walking + muscles involved

Answer 7

Stance phase (60%), foot in contact w/ ground):

1) initial contact: hip flexed (iliopsoas), leg extended (quadriceps), foot dorsiflexed (ant. leg muscles - FT, EHL, EDL, TA)
2) foot takes load: extension of leg (quadriceps), ankle neutral (invertors + evertors act)
3) move onto ball of foot: hip extension (hamstrings), foot plantarflexion (triceps surae - pronounced suh-ry)
4) push off: plantar flexion (triceps surae), flexion of toes (EHL and EDL)
- > big toe is last point of contact w/ ground

Swing phase (40%), foot off ground:

5) lift leg: hip flexed (iliopsoas, rec. fem.), leg flexed (hamstrings), dorsiflexed (FT, EHL, EDL, TA)
6) swing leg (same as initial contact)

Question 8

trendelenburg gait

Answer 8

due to a problem with the abductors and med. rotators of the leg (ie glut. med. and min.), these normally contract to prevent the pelvis dropping on the raised leg

therefore, eg if the left leg had dropped, then it would be a case of the right leg abductor failing

if the pelvis drops on one side, the trunk lurches to the other side, in an effort to maintain a steady pelvic level - a trendelenburg gait

Question 9

foot drop

Answer 9

deep fibular nerve is damaged -> ant muscles (FT, EDL, EHL, TA) are weakened -> less dorsiflexion -> foot drags along the ground during swing phase

• to try and dorsiflex the foot, the patient may try to flick the foot out, called an ‘eversion flick’

Question 10

antalgic gait

Answer 10

a pateint w/ a chronic joint problem may try to reduce the load on that side by forming a gait called an antalgic gait - stance phase is shortened, foot placed down softly (for the side that has problems)

eg osteoporosis