what is gait
refers to the manner or style of walking.
Stance
foot in contact with ground
swing
no ground contact
Gait cycle
a fundamental unit to describe the gait during ambulation. This occurs from the time when the heel of one foot strikes the ground to the time at which the heel of the same foot contacts the ground again.
Stride length
the interval between 2 sequential initial floor contacts from the same limb.
Step length
the interval between an initial contact from one foot to the initial contact of the other foot
Stance phase
the entire period during which the foot is on the ground.
Swing phase
the time the foot is in the air.
Initial contact
the instant the foot makes contact with the ground. (Previously be referred to as heel strike)
Loading response
body weight transfer from initial contact through until the opposite limb is lifted for swing.
Mid stance
initial phase of single leg support where momentum moves mass over forefoot.
Terminal Stance
completes single leg support. Body weight moves ahead of forefoot.
Pre-swing
final phase of stance, represents functional commitment to initiating forward motion prior to swing phase.
Initial Swing
the lift off the foot from the floor.
Mid Swing
middle area of swing when foot is opposite the stance foot.
Terminal Swing
last phase of swing in preparation for initial contact.
Heel strike
the onset of stance made by the contact of the heel onto the ground.
Toe off
the lift off of the big toe from contact point on the ground.
Ground reaction force (GRF)
the force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it.
Hip motion
- Ranges from 30° flexion to 20° extension (total range 50)°
- Hip motion allows pelvis and trunk to remain erect whilst body weight moves over supporting foot.
knee motion
- Ranges from approx. 60° flexion
to 0° extension (total range 55° to
60°) - Key to stance stability
- Reduces the length of the swinging limb and hence facilitates foot clearance in swing phase.
Extending
Ankle motion
- Ranges from 20° plantarflexion to 5° dorsiflexion (total range 25°)
- Plantarflexion reduces impact of heel contact at loading response (1).
- Dorsiflexion through mid-stance to terminal stance facilitates advancement of body weight over foot (2).
- Plantarflexion prepares limb for swing phase by transforming extended knee into freely flexing joint (3).
- Dorsiflexion during swing allows for foot clearance (4).
Pelvic motion (coronal)
- Movement (lift/drop) around an AP axis, along coronal plane
*
Tendency to for pelvic drop on the side of the swing (non supported) limb
Activation of contralateral (supported limb) gluteus medius and minimus limit drop during stance phase
Failure -> Trendelenburg gait (weakness of hip abductors on stance leg)
Pelvic motion (sagittal)
- Movement (tilt) around a transverse axis
Very small total amount of tilt (2-4 degrees)
-
week 1 & 2119
-
week 3110
-
week 431
-
week 557
-
week 734
-
week 837
-
week 928
-
week 1020
-
week 1132
-
dermatomes10
-
week1 SEM 2 Joints of the Shoulder Region23
-
week 2 sem 222
-
week 3 sem 229
-
week 4 sem 2 functional anatomy of the hand43
-
week 5 sem 227
-
muscles48
-
muscles of trunk neck head61
-
week 749
-
week 8 sem 228
-
week 9 sem 27
-
week 1137
-
week 12 sem 214
-
head neck and trunk muscles17
-
head crainal nerves13
