Abnormal Gait Flashcards
(35 cards)
What is balance?
The ability to stand
What is gait?
The rhythmic stepping movements for travel
Do balance and gait problems tend to be found in the same individuals?
Yes
What are walking messages initiated by?
The motor and premotor cortex
What are walking messages modified by?
The subcortical nuclei, brainstem, and cerebellum
How are walking messages interpreted into walking?
The structures modifying the walking messages activate the spine’s central pattern generator, which co-ordinates arm and leg movements into rhythmic gait
What affects the output of the spinal central pattern generator?
Proprioceptive, visual, and vestibular inputs
What is the ability to stand and walk normally dependant on?
Several systems, including;
- Visual
- Vestibular
- Cerebellar
- Motor
- Proprioceptive
- Sensory
What do balance and gait require?
Intact brain, spinal cord, and sensory system
What can cases changes in gait?
- Disease directly affecting this system
- Age
In what % of older people do gait and balance abnormalities occur?
8-19%
What happens as the body moves forward in normal gait?
One limb typically provides support while the other limb is advanced in preparation for its role as the support limb
What is the gait cycle composed of?
Stance and swing phase
What is the stance phase further subdivided into?
- Initial double stance
- Single limb stance
- Terminal double limb stance
What happens to the duration of each aspect of stance as the walking velocity increases?
It decreases
How is the transition from walking to running marked?
By elimination of double support
What normal age-related changes are there to gait?
- Strength
- Walking posture
- Limb motion
- Joint motion
What happens to normal strength with age?
It peaks in mid-20s and declines only a little until the 5th decade, after which it falls off much faster
What happens to normal gait speed with age?
It remains stable until the 7th decade, then slows modestly
What might age-related changes in the balance of older persons result in?
Compensatory responses that meet routine needs but may be ineffective under demanding circumstances
Describe the relationship between normal age related loss of function and caused by disease
Loss of function caused by disease is of greater impact than age-related change, but it will be superimposed on that caused by age and thus both may contribute to a failure of mobility
What happens to limb motion changes with age?
- Cadence (rhythm) does not chance
- Double stance (the time when both feet are on the ground) increases with age
What is the result of the double stance time increasing with age?
Increased time in the double stance position reduces momentum and therefore reduces the time for the swing leg to advance, contributing to short step-length.
What happens to joint motion with age?
- Ankle plantar flexion is reduced during late stage of stance
- Maximal ankle dorsiflexion is not reduced
