TEC1 - Semester 2: Gait Biomechanics

Question 1

What are purposes of arches of the foot?

Answer 1

• adapting to uneven surfaces
• provides traction for movement
• leverage for propulsion
• awareness of joint and body position for balance

Question 2

Which movements are required during gait?

Answer 2

dorsiflexion & plantarflexion, flexion & extension of toes, inversion & eversion, abduction & adduction

Question 3

Describe dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.

Answer 3

• in sagittal plane, around coronal axis
• dorsiflexion: decreases angle between leg and dorsum of foot
• plantarflexion: increases angle between leg and dorsum of foot

Question 4

Plane and AOR of the toes?

Answer 4

sagittal plane, coronal axis

Question 5

Describe inversion and eversion.

Answer 5

• frontal plane, longitudinal axis
• inversion: plantar surface brought toward midline
• eversion: plantar surface brought away from midline

Question 6

Describe adduction and abduction.

Answer 6

• transverse plane, vertical axis
• abduction: distal aspect of foot moves away from midline
• adduction: opposite

Question 7

What is pronation?

Answer 7

motion in all three planes. includes eversion, dorsiflexion and abduction

Question 8

What happens in non weight bearing pronation?

Answer 8

calcaneal eversion, abduction and dorsiflexion

Question 9

What happens in weight bearing pronation?

Answer 9

calcaneal eversion, talar adduction & plantaflexion, tib-fib medial rotation

Question 10

What is supination?

Answer 10

also a motion in all three planes. includes inversion, plantarflexion and adduction

Question 11

What happens in non weight bearing supination?

Answer 11

calcaneal inversion, adduction and plantarflexion

Question 12

what happens in weight bearing supination?

Answer 12

calcaneal inversion, talar abduction & dorsiflexion, tib-fib lateral rotation

Question 13

Which factors contribute to overpronation?

Answer 13

• tibialis posterior weakness
• flat feet
• genu valgum (knock knees)
• subtalar eversion
• obesity

Question 14

What are the 4 major criteria essential for walking?

Answer 14

equilibrium, locomotion, musculoskeletal integrity and neurological control

Question 15

Describe what the 4 criteria mean.

Answer 15

Equilibrium: ability to assume upright posture and maintain balance

Locomotion: ability to iniate and maintain rhythmic stepping

Musculoskeletal integrity: normal bone, joint and muscle function

Neurological control: neurons must receive and send messages to tell the body how and when to move

Question 16

Define “gait”.

Answer 16

series of rhythmical, alternating movements of trunk and limbs resulting in forward progression of the body

Question 17

What is the gait cycle?

Answer 17

• single sequence of functions by ONE limb
• begins when reference foot contacts ground
• ends with subsequent floor contact of same foot

Question 18

What is the step length?

Answer 18

Distance between points of heel contact of opposite feet (in normal gait, right and left are same)

Question 19

What is the stride length?

Answer 19

distance between points of heel contact of same foot (in normal gait: double step length)

Question 20

What is the walking base?

Answer 20

side-to-side distance between line of two feet

Question 21

What are cadence and velocity?

Answer 21

cadence: number of steps per minute
velocity: distance covered in a certain amount of time (m/s)

Question 22

Describe stance and swing phase.

Answer 22

Stance phase: reference limb is in contact with floor (60%)
Swing phase: reference limb not in contact with floor (40%)

Question 23

What are the five steps in stance phase?

Answer 23

1. heel strike
2. flat foot
3. midstance
4. heel lift
5. toe off

Question 24

Describe the heel strike.

Answer 24

• heel of leading leg strikes ground
• foot: supinated, ankle: dorsiflexed, knee: extended, hip: flexed & ant. rotated, pelvis: contralaterally rotated, shoulders: extended

Question 25

Describe flat foot?

Answer 25

• first instant when foot is flat on ground
• foor: neutral, ankle: neutral, knee: slightly flexed

Question 26

Describe midstance.

Answer 26

• weight is directly over supporting lower extremity
• begins after flat foot ends with heel off
• foot: slight pronation, ankle: neutral, knee: fully extended, hip: neutral, pelvis: neutral, shoulders: neutral

Question 27

Describe heel off.

Answer 27

• heel of reference foot leaves the ground
• foot: slight pronation, ankle: DF to PF, knee: fully extended, hip: fully extended, pelvis: right rotation, shoulder: slightly flexed

Question 28

Describe toe off

Answer 28

• toe of the reference foot leaves ground
• foot: neutral, ankle: PF, knee: fully extended, hip: fully extended, pelvis: right rotation, shoulder: flexed

Question 29

What are the steps of the swing phase?

Answer 29

Acceleration, midswing, deceleration

Question 30

Describe acceleration.

Answer 30

• as toe leaves ground and continues until midswing; swinging leg is directly under body
• foot: neutral, ankle: neutral, knee: slightly flexed, hip: fully extended & int. rotated, pelvis: right rotation, shoulder: flexed

Question 31

Describe midswing.

Answer 31

• when leg passes directly beneath body
• foot: neutral, ankle: slight DF and toe flexion, knee: flexed, hip: neutral, pelvis: neutral, shoulder: neutral

Question 32

Describe deceleration.

Answer 32

• when limb is decelerating in preparation for heel strike
• foot: slight supination, ankle: DF, knee: fully extended, hip: flexed & external rotation, pelvis: rotated left, shoulder: extended