Walking and Posture Flashcards
How is weight distributed in a healthy posture?
Weight of upper body transmitted through the vertebral column, the ilium transfers the weight to the femurs and the pubic rami forms braces that maintain the integrity of the arch
What are the four main centres of pressure in a healthy posture?
in front of the ankle, in front of the knee, just behind hip and just behind ear
Describe what happens when you lift one leg from the ground
Muscles around the hip of the supporting leg become active to move body weight to supporting leg and prevent pelvis from dropping on the unsupported side. Hip abductors stop pelvis drop on unsupported side, hip adductors help move body weight
What may cause pelvic drop when one leg is lifted?
Weak hip abductors, fracture of femur neck or greater trochanter or dislocation of the femoral head
How many stages are there in the walking cycle?
5
Describe the walking cycle
1) Initial contact/ heel strike - foot is inverted and dorsiflexed and heel makes floor contact on lateral side
2) Loading response/flat foot - foot full contact with floor
3) Midstance - body weight is brought over planted foot
4) Terminal stance/heel off - heel is lifted off ground, foot is plantarflexed and everted
5) Preswing/toe-off - lower limb position to quickly swing forward beneath the body to transfer weight from one limb to the other
Which muscles are involved in the heel strike phase?
Dorsiflexors
Which muscles are involved the stance phase?
Quadriceps extend knee early in stance and gluteus maximus and hamstrings extends hips
Which muscles are involved in going from a double to a single support?
Hip abductors active when going from a double to single support
Which muscles are active in preswing/toe-off?
Plantarflexors
Which muscles are involved in the swing phase?
Hip flexors - lift leg off of the ground
Hamstrings - flex the knee to life swinging leg off the ground
Dorsiflexors - to prevent the toes from dragging
Name some mechanical causes of abnormal gait
osteoarthritis, muscle strains and blisters
Name some neurological causes of abnormal gait
perception deficits or nerve damage
What is meant by ‘shuffling gait’?
short shuffling steps with rigidity in the hip and knee extensors e.g. parkinsons
What is meant by ‘scissor gait’?
the thigh swings across the body during the swing phase and this gait can be unilateral (stroke or cerebral palsy) or bilateral (due to cerebral palsy)
