Gait

Question 1

Elements of Normal Gait

Answer 1

• Posture
• Arm swing
• Length of stride
• Base: distance btw 2 feet, usually 2-3 inches, aligned with shoulders
• Rhythm: smooth?
• Presence of associated movements

Question 2

Corticospinal tracts

Answer 2

• voluntary motor control
• mainly inhibitory*

*reticulspinal, vestibulospinal, and rubrospinal tracts give baseline level of activation

Question 3

“Extrapyramidal” basal ganglia

Answer 3

– subcortical motor systems (modulation of motor control)

• damage results in wriggling movements, extraneous truncal movements and facial tics
• e.g., Tourette’s Syndrome

Question 4

Cerebellar pathways

Answer 4

• balance & coordination
• Cerebellar influences are ipsilateral
• Cerebellar lesions rarely cause weakness (they cause ataxia)
• Cerebellar disease may be associated with hypotonia

Question 5

Sensory systems

Answer 5

• need fo feel the ground

Question 6

Vestibular system

Answer 6

• stabilizes us in external space as we move

Question 7

Prefrontal cortex & associative zones

Answer 7

• Executive function
• Associative zones (Brodmann Area 6) have pre-programmed motor movements
• Loss results in Apraxias

Question 8

Peripheral nerves

Answer 8

• connect intention to muscles

Muscle

Question 9

Cerebellar Inputs & Outputs

Answer 9

1. Inferior cerebellar peduncle: input to cerebellum
2. Middle cerebellar peduncle: allows for communcation between cerebellar hemispheres
3. Superior cerebellar peduncle: cerebellar outflow to the cortex

Exception: anterior spinocerebellar tract enters cerebellum from spinal cord thru the superior cerebellar penduncle