Week 13 Flashcards
The Gait Cycle
Walking is a series of movements
Beginning: Heel Contact/Heel Strike
Stride
Sequence of events taking place between successive heel contacts of the same foot
Step
Sequence of events that occurs within successive heel contacts of opposite feet (between right and left contacts)
What are the initial stages of the gait cycle?
Two Steps, A right step and a left step
What are the steps to the Stance and Swing Phase in the Gait Cycle?
Stride Length
Distance between two successive heel contacts of the same foot
Stride and Gait Cycle are synonymous.
Step Length
Distance between successive heel contacts of the two different feet
Step Width
The lateral distance between the heel centers of two consecutive foot contacts
Foot Angle
The amount of toe out, angle between the line of progression of the body and the long axis of the foot.
What are spacial descriptions of gait?
A. Stride Length, Step Length, Step Width, Foot Angle
B. Stride Cadence, Step Length, Stride Length, Step Cadence
C. Foot Angle, Step Length, Stride Cadence, Stride Length
D. None of the Above
A. Stride Length, Step Length, Step Width, Foot Angle
Cadence
The number of steps per minute (Step Rate)
Stride Time
The time for a full gait cycle
Step Time
The time for the completion of a right or left step
Walking Speed
Combination of spatial and temporal factors: distance covered in an amount of time
Healthy adult has a gait cycle that takes slightly more than 1 second and covers 4.5 feet
What are temporal descriptions of gait?
A. Cadence, Stride Length, Step Length, Step Width
B. Step Time, Step Length, Stride Length, Cadence
C. Walking Speed, Step Time, Cadence, Stride Time
D. Step Length, Step Width, Walking Speed, Step Length
C. Walking Speed, Step Time, Cadence, Stride Time
True/False
Weakness or joint restrictions through the upper body, pelvis, hip, knee, ankle and foot can all impact the gait cycle.
True
Examples: Pebble in your shoe
Wearing a knee brace
Sinusoidal
A curve having the form of a sine wave
A sinusoidal pattern has a smooth, undulating pattern
What percentage of time do we spend in the stance and swing phase?
Stance phase: 60% of gait cycle
Swing phase: 40% of gait cycle
True/False
As gait speed decreases, the percentage of the gait cycle spent in periods of double-limb becomes shorter.
False
As gait speed increases, the percentage of the gait cycle spent in periods of double-limb becomes shorter.
Name all Abnormal Gait Patterns
Ankle Dorsiflexor Weakness
-Heel Strike
-Swing Phase
Hemiplegic Gait
Parkinsonian Gait
Scissor Gait
Ataxic Gait
Trendelenburg Gait
Name two types of Ankle Dorsiflexor Weakness
Abnormal Gait Patterns
Heel Strike (Drop Foot): Weak dorsiflexors cause the foot to land flatly rather than in toe up (dorsiflexion at the ankle) – usually toes will land first.
Swing Phase: The toes will catch because the dorsiflexors can’t sufficiently dorsiflex so the ankle will hang in plantar flexion during swing – this results in a steppage gait as you compensate by flexing the knee and hip higher during the swing.
Drop foot, foot slap, equinus gait (on tiptoes)
Why would someone have an abnormal gait pattern?
Paralysis/Weakness
Joint ROM Limitations
Neurological Involvement
Hemiplegic Gait
On the affected side, little arm swing, hip extended, adducted, internally rotated, foot drop, limited knee stability, knee extension. Short step length on affected side.
Parkinsonian Gait
Trunk, hip, knee flexion, body weight is placed on balls of the feet resulting in shuffling gait
Scissor Gait
Excessive hip adduction brings knees together often crossing over in front of each other
Ataxic Gait
Damage to cerebellum affects motor control and results in jerky movements, poor balance, and a wider base of support
Trendelenburg Gait
An abnormal gait that is usually found in people with weak abductor muscles of the hip which are supplied by the superior gluteal nerve
