Walking and Gait Flashcards
Define Gait
Define Gait Cycle
Mechanism by which body is transported using co-ordinated movements of the major lower limb joints
Period of time from Initial Contact to next IC on SAME side of body
What are the 2 phases of Gait
What percentage of the gait cycle is spent in each phases when walking
What percentage of the gait cycle is spent in each phases when running
Stance Phase: Time in which foot is in contact with ground- 60% in walking, 40% in running
Swing Phase: Time during which foot is not In contact with the ground- 40% in walking, 60% in running
What are 5 important attributes needed for normal gait
- Stability in stance
- Foot clearance during swing phase
- Pre positioning fo initial contact
- Adequate step length
- Energy conservation
What are periods of double support
What is the period of double float
2 times when both feet are in contact with ground
1 time when both feet are off the ground
Describe the 5 phases of Stance Phase
- Initial contact (Heel strikes ground)
- Loading response (Impact absorbed)
- Mid-stance (Foot flat on ground)
- Terminal stance (Plantar flexed ankle)
- Pre-swing (MTPJ joints flex to push off ground)
Describe the 3 phases of Swing Phase
- Initial swing (Knee flexes to get foot off ground)
- Mid-swing (Hip flexes, pelvis swings forward, dorsiflexion)
- Terminal swing (Knee extends, foot brought close to ground)
Define;
Stride
Step
Cadence
Stride- Distance from Initial contact with one leg to next IC with same leg
Step- Distance from IC with one leg to IC with opposite leg
Cadence- No. of steps per minute
Compare the 2 elements to gait analysis
Kinematics describes the motions (Joint angles, displacements, velocities etc.)
Kinetics describes the forces/ moments that CAUSE motions
Describe Antalgic Gait
Which hand should the walking stick be held in
Patients walk with a limp, reducing the stance phase of the painful limb
In hand opposite painful limb (can lean towards stick, shifting their centre of gravity away from painful limb)
Describe Trendeleburg Gait/ Waddling
While in stance phase, pelvis drops on unaffected side
Patient tries to compensate by swinging torso towards affected side
What causes Hemiplegic Gait, describe it
What causes it
Due to paralysis of one side of body
Patient has spasticity of affected side leading to a flexed limb and extended lower limb
Need to lean towards unaffected side and circumduct the paralysed leg
Short stance phase as can’t bear much weight on paralysed leg
What causes DIiplegic Gait and describe it
Which foot makes initial contact
Spasticity in both lower limbs
- Narrow based gait, dragging both legs and scraping toes on ground.
- Spasticity in hip adductors can cause SCISSORING
- Spasticity in hamstrings-> Flexed knees slightly
- Spasticity in Gastocnemius and Soleus-> Plantar flexion
Forefoot
What causes High Steppage Gait and describe it
Weak ankle dorsiflexion
- Patient needs to flex hip more to raise foot high over ground
- Foot SLAPS onto ground, as foot can’t be dorsiflexed
In High Steppage Gait, if Deep Fibular Nerve is damaged but Superficial Fibular Nerve is intact, how may the patient compensate during swing phase
Everting foot in a sudden motion called the Eversion Flick
Describe Parkinsonian Gait
- Hard to initiate movement, so flex their neck and trunk forwards to move centre of gravity forward
- Very short steps (Shuffling gait)
- May show a Festinant Gait (Tendency to take accelerating steps)
- Loss of arm swing whilst walking
