muscle of gait

Question 1

Hip Initial contact & foot flat

Answer 1

• Glutes working concentrically to bring the hip into extension

Question 2

Hip Mid stance

Answer 2

The ground reaction force moves posteriorly to the hip joint yet the hip continues moving into extension thus requiring the hip flexors to work eccentrically up until toe off at the hip

Question 3

Hip toe off

Answer 3

• Hip moves into flexion by concentric activation of hip flexors until the mid-swing

Question 4

Hip mid-swing

Answer 4

Starting from the mid-swing momentum takes over with glutes working eccentrically controlling the swing of the moving limb up until initial contact

Question 5

Ankle Initial contact & foot flat

Answer 5

• Dorsiflexors working eccentrically to lower the foot to the ground
• at foot flat there’s a sudden change of ground reaction force
• Activating plantar flexors eccentrically to control close chain dorsiflexion at the ankle joint

Question 6

Ankle Midstance to heel off

Answer 6

• Change in ankle ROM moving into 20 degrees of flexion
• Plantar flexors are firing concentrically in order to push the foot off the ground and propel the body forward

Question 7

Ankle Toe off to mid-swing

Answer 7

• Foot has to return to a neutral position
• Dorsiflexors working concentrically to clear the foot off the ground

Question 8

ankle
Mid swing to initial contact

Answer 8

Dorsiflexors are working isometrically clearing the foot of the ground and preparing for heel strike

Question 9

Knee
Initial contact

Answer 9

• Hamstrings working concentrically conjointly with the hip extensors in order to exten the hip
• Since the knee is moving into flexion right after initial contact the ground reaction force rapidly changes its position and moves posterior to the knee joint requiring eccentric knee extensor activation to control the degree of knee flexion and to prevent the knee from buckling

Question 10

knee foot flat to midstance

Answer 10

• Knee moves into extension- knee extensors working concentrically
  In midstance brief spike in hamstring activity followed by concentric activation of hamstrings at heel off

Question 11

knee Toe off to mid swing

Answer 11

• Quadriceps are working eccentrically
  
  • Knee into flexion by a passive mechanism driven by flexion at the knee joint

Question 12

Knee Mid-swing to initial-contact

Answer 12

• Brief activation of eccentric hamstrings to control the momentum that is carrying the knee into extension