Walking And Gait

Question 0

Mechanical goals of heel strike? Muscles which carry these out?

Answer 0

Lower forefoot to the ground - anterior muscles of the leg
Continue deceleration - gluteus maximus
Preserve longitudinal arch of the foot - intrinsic muscles and long tendons of the foot eg flexor digitorum brevis and tibialis anterior

Question 1

Name the stages of the stance phase of walking

Answer 1

Heel strike
Loading response
Midstance
Terminal stance
Pre-swing

Question 2

Mechanical goals of loading response and muscles which carry these out?

Answer 2

Accept weight - quadriceps
Decelerate mass (slow dorsiflexion) - soleus and gastrocnemius
Stabilise pelvis - gluteus medius and minimus; tensor fasciae latae
Preserve longitudinal arch of the foot - intrinsic muscles and long tendons of the foot

Question 3

Mechanical goals of mid stance and muscles which do this?

Answer 3

Stabilise the knee - quads
Control dorsiflexion - soleus and gastrocnemius
Stabilise pelvis - gluteus maximus and minimus; tensor fasciae latae
Preserve longitudinal arch of the foot …

Question 4

Mechanical goals and muscles involved in terminal stance?

Answer 4

Accelerate mass - soleus and gastrocnemius
Stabilise pelvis - hip abductors as before
Preserve arches of foot and fix forefoot - intrinsic muscles of the foot and long tendons of foot

Question 5

Mechanical goals and muscles involved in pre-swing?

Answer 5

Accelerate mass - long flexors of digits eg flexor hallucis longus and flexor digitorum longus
Preserve arches of foot - intrinsic muscles and long tendons of foot
Decelerate thigh and prepare for swing - iliopsoas and rectus femoris

Question 6

Name the stages of the swing phase of walking

Answer 6

Initial swing
Midswing
Terminal swing

Question 7

Mechanical goals of initial swing and muscles involved?

Answer 7

Accelerate thigh - iliopsoas and rectus femoris

Clear foot - ankle dorsiflexors

Question 8

Mechanical goals and muscles involved in midswing?

Answer 8

Clear foot - ankle dorsiflexors

Question 9

Mechanical goals and muscles involved in terminal swing?

Answer 9

Decelerate thigh - gluteus maximus and hamstrings
Decelerate leg - knee flexors - hamstrings
Position foot - ankle dorsiflexors
Extend knee to place floor - quadriceps

Question 10

What is the Trendelenburg sign and what does it mean?

Answer 10

When the pelvis drops on the raised limb

Abductor muscles on the standing limb are greatly weakened or paralysed

Question 11

What is seen in the Trendelenburg gait during walking?

Answer 11

As the pelvis drops to one side, the trunk lurches to the opposite side (side with the planted foot) in an effort to maintain a steady pelvic gait

Question 12

What does foot drop suggest damage to?

Answer 12

Common or deep fibular nerve damage

Question 13

What is seen in foot drop?

Answer 13

Foot cannot be dorsi flexed and drags along the ground during the swing phase. To try to dorsiflex the foot, the patient may evert the foot in a sudden motion called an eversion flick

Question 14

What is an antalgic gait due to?

Answer 14

Patients suffering from long standing joint problems. They develop a gait that reduces pain.