Assistive Device Gait Patterns

Question 1

how is an appropriate gait pattern using an assistive device (AD) determined?

Answer 1

WB status
severity of patient’s overall condition

Question 2

what are the 5 commonly used gait patterns using an AD?

Answer 2

two-point gait
three-point gait
four-point gait
swing-to gait
swing-through gait

Question 3

two-point gait can be used with what types of ADs?

Answer 3

two crutches
two canes

Question 4

what is a two-point gait pattern

Answer 4

using two crutches or canes, the patient ambulates moving left crutch/cane forward while simultaneously advancing the RLE and vice versa
each step is one point and a complete cycle is two points

Question 5

three-point gait can be used what what types of ADs?

Answer 5

crutches or a walker

Question 6

what type of WB status is a three point gait pattern used for?

Answer 6

injured LE with significantly decreased WB/NWB status

Question 7

what is a three-point gait pattern?

Answer 7

AD is advanced followed by/at the same time as the injured lower extremity and then the uninjured lower extremity
the AD and each lower extremity are considered separate points for a total of 3

Question 8

four-point gait can be used with what types of ADs?

Answer 8

two crutches or two canes

Question 9

what gait pattern is the four-point gait pattern similar to?

Answer 9

two-point

Question 10

what is the primary difference between a two-point and four-point gait pattern?

Answer 10

in a four-point gait pattern, the patient does not advance the lower extremities simultaneously with the device as with two-point, but instead waits and advances the opposite leg after the crutch/cane has been advanced

Question 11

when is a four-point gait pattern typically prescribed?

Answer 11

when a patient displays impaired coordination, balance or significant strength deficits

Question 12

swing to gait can be used with what type of ADs?

Answer 12

crutches or walker

Question 13

when is a swing to gait pattern typically prescribed?

Answer 13

when a patient has trunk and/or BLE weakness, paresis or paralysis

Question 14

what is a swing to gait pattern?

Answer 14

the patient uses crutches or a walker to simultaneously advance the BLE only to the point of the AD

Question 15

swing through gait can be used with what types of ADs?

Answer 15

crutches or a walker

Question 16

what is a swing through gait pattern?

Answer 16

the patient uses crutches or a walker to simultaneously advance the BLE beyond the point of the walker