Gait Flashcards
Walking
- A simple yet complicated task:
- Simple – we can do it without having to think about it too much
- Complicated – involves so many structures in the body
- … system = muscles, tendons, bones, joints,
- … system = sensory, motor, autonomic, proprioception
- … system = heart, blood vessels
- Special … = vision, hearing
- Problem(s) with any of the systems / structures can have an effect on our ability to walk
- A simple yet complicated task:
- Simple – we can do it without having to think about it too much
- Complicated – involves so many structures in the body
- Musculoskeletal system = muscles, tendons, bones, joints,
- Nervous system = sensory, motor, autonomic, proprioception
- Cardiovascular system = heart, blood vessels
- Special senses = vision, hearing
- Problem(s) with any of the systems / structures can have an effect on our ability to walk
Gait is …
the way a person walks
Gait (the way a person walks)
- … … walking / running
- Turning
- … adjustment
- A combination of movements
- Straight line walking / running
- Turning
-
Terrain adjustment
- A combination of movements
Gait (the way a person walks)
- Straight line walking / running
- …
- Terrain adjustment
- A … of movements
- Straight line walking / running
- Turning
- Terrain adjustment
- A combination of movements
Gait Cycle
- The … phase of gait begins when the foot first touches the ground and ends when the same foot leaves the ground (60% of cycle)
- The … phase of gait begins when the foot first leaves the ground and ends when the same foot touches the ground again (40% of cycle)
- The stance phase of gait begins when the foot first touches the ground and ends when the same foot leaves the ground (60% of cycle)
- The swing phase of gait begins when the foot first leaves the ground and ends when the same foot touches the ground again (40% of cycle)

Gait Cycle
- The … phase of gait begins when the foot first touches the ground and ends when the same foot leaves the ground (…% of cycle)
- The … phase of gait begins when the foot first leaves the ground and ends when the same foot touches the ground again (…% of cycle)
- The stance phase of gait begins when the foot first touches the ground and ends when the same foot leaves the ground (60% of cycle)
- The swing phase of gait begins when the foot first leaves the ground and ends when the same foot touches the ground again (40% of cycle)

Gait Cycle
- The … phase of gait begins when the foot first touches the ground and ends when the same foot leaves the ground (60% of cycle)
- The … phase of gait begins when the foot first leaves the ground and ends when the same foot touches the ground again (40% of cycle)
- The stance phase of gait begins when the foot first touches the ground and ends when the same foot leaves the ground (60% of cycle)
- The swing phase of gait begins when the foot first leaves the ground and ends when the same foot touches the ground again (40% of cycle)

Classic gait terms:
Heel strike, foot flat, midtance, heel off, toe off, midwing, heel strike

New gait terms:
Initial contact, loading response, mid-stance, terminal stance, preswing, inital swing, mid-swing, terminal swing

Division of the Gait cycle
- 1 … = 1 gait cycle
- Stance
- Weight … (Initial contact and Loading response)
- … … support (Mid stance, Terminal stance, Pre swing)
- Swing
- Limb … (Pre swing, Initial swing, Mid swing, Terminal swing)
- Stance
- 1 stride = 1 gait cycle
- Stance
- Weight acceptance (Initial contact and Loading response)
- Single limb support (Mid stance, Terminal stance, Pre swing)
- Swing
- Limb advancement (Pre swing, Initial swing, Mid swing, Terminal swing)
- Stance

Division of the Gait cycle
- 1 stride = 1 gait cycle
- Stance
- Weight acceptance (… contact and …. response)
- Single limb support (… stance, … stance, Pre …)
- Swing
- Limb advancement (Pre …, Initial swing, Mid swing, Terminal swing)
- Stance
- 1 stride = 1 gait cycle
- Stance
- Weight acceptance (Initial contact and Loading response)
- Single limb support (Mid stance, Terminal stance, Pre swing)
- Swing
- Limb advancement (Pre swing, Initial swing, Mid swing, Terminal swing)
- Stance

Division of the Gait cycle
- 1 stride = 1 gait cycle
- …
- Weight acceptance (Initial … and Loading …)
- Single limb support (Mid stance, Terminal stance, Pre swing)
- …
- Limb advancement (Pre swing, Initial swing, Mid swing, Terminal swing)
- …
- 1 stride = 1 gait cycle
-
Stance
- Weight acceptance (Initial contact and Loading response)
- Single limb support (Mid stance, Terminal stance, Pre swing)
-
Swing
- Limb advancement (Pre swing, Initial swing, Mid swing, Terminal swing)
-
Stance

Division of the Gait cycle
- 1 stride = 1 gait cycle
- Stance
- … acceptance (Initial contact and Loading response)
- … limb support (Mid stance, … stance, Pre swing)
- Swing
- Limb advancement (Pre swing, … swing, … swing, … swing)
- Stance
- 1 stride = 1 gait cycle
- Stance
- Weight acceptance (Initial contact and Loading response)
- Single limb support (Mid stance, Terminal stance, Pre swing)
- Swing
- Limb advancement (Pre swing, Initial swing, Mid swing, Terminal swing)
- Stance

Positions of the joints - Heel Strike vs Foot Flat
- Heel strike:
- Hip …
- Knee …/…
- Ankle dorsiflexion/neutral
- 1st MTPJ dorsiflexion/neutral
- Foot Flat:
- Hip …
- Knee …
- Ankle plantarflexion
- 1st MTPJ neutral
- Heel strike:
- Hip flexion
- Knee neutral/extension
- Ankle dorsiflexion/neutral
- 1st MTPJ dorsiflexion/neutral
- Foot Flat:
- Hip flexion
- Knee flexion
- Ankle plantarflexion
- 1st MTPJ neutral
Positions of the joints - Heel Strike vs Foot Flat
- Heel strike:
- Hip flexion
- Knee neutral/extension
- Ankle …/…
- 1st MTPJ …/…
- Foot Flat:
- Hip flexion
- Knee flexion
- Ankle …
- 1st MTPJ …
- Heel strike:
- Hip flexion
- Knee neutral/extension
- Ankle dorsiflexion/neutral
- 1st MTPJ dorsiflexion/neutral
- Foot Flat:
- Hip flexion
- Knee flexion
- Ankle plantarflexion
- 1st MTPJ neutral
Muscle activities - Heel Strike vs Foot Flat
- Heel Strike:
- Hip extensors … (eccentric) to control hip flexion via momentum
- … contracts (isometric) to control hip flexion and knee extension
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to start knee flexion
- Knee extensors contract (eccentric) to control knee flexion
- Ankle … contract (eccentric) to prevent foot slapping
- Foot Flat:
- Hip extensors contract (concentric) to start hip extension
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Knee extensors contract (eccentric) to control knee flexion
- … contracts (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (eccentric) to prevent foot slapping
- Ankle plantarflexors contract (concentric) to bring the foot to the ground
- Heel Strike:
- Hip extensors contract (eccentric) to control hip flexion via momentum
- Gracilis contracts (isometric) to control hip flexion and knee extension
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to start knee flexion
- Knee extensors contract (eccentric) to control knee flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (eccentric) to prevent foot slapping
- Foot Flat:
- Hip extensors contract (concentric) to start hip extension
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Knee extensors contract (eccentric) to control knee flexion
- Gastroc contracts (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (eccentric) to prevent foot slapping
- Ankle plantarflexors contract (concentric) to bring the foot to the ground
Muscle activities - Heel Strike vs Foot Flat
- Heel Strike:
- Hip extensors contract (eccentric) to control hip … via momentum
- Gracilis contracts (isometric) to control hip flexion and knee …
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to start knee flexion
- Knee extensors contract (eccentric) to control knee flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (eccentric) to prevent foot …
- Foot Flat:
- Hip extensors contract (concentric) to start hip extension
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Knee extensors contract (eccentric) to control knee flexion
- Gastroc contracts (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (eccentric) to prevent foot …
- Ankle plantarflexors contract (concentric) to bring the foot to the ground
- Heel Strike:
- Hip extensors contract (eccentric) to control hip flexion via momentum
- Gracilis contracts (isometric) to control hip flexion and knee extension
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to start knee flexion
- Knee extensors contract (eccentric) to control knee flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (eccentric) to prevent foot slapping
- Foot Flat:
- Hip extensors contract (concentric) to start hip extension
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Knee extensors contract (eccentric) to control knee flexion
- Gastroc contracts (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (eccentric) to prevent foot slapping
- Ankle plantarflexors contract (concentric) to bring the foot to the ground
Positions of the joints - Mid Swing vs Terminal Swing
- Mid swing:
- Hip flexion
- Knee flexion
- Ankle …
- 1st MTPJ …
- Terminal swing:
- Hip flexion
- Knee flexion/neutral
- Ankle …
- 1st MTPJ …
- Mid swing:
- Hip flexion
- Knee flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexion
- 1st MTPJ dorsiflexion
- Terminal swing:
- Hip flexion
- Knee flexion/neutral
- Ankle dorsiflexion
- 1st MTPJ dorsiflexion
Muscle activities - Mid Swing vs Terminal Swing
- Mid swing:
- Hip … contract (eccentric) to control hip flexion
- … contracts (concentric) to keep the hip and knee in flexion
- Knee … contract (concentric) to keep the lower leg off the ground
- Ankle … contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Terminal swing:
- Hip … contract (eccentric) to control hip flexion via momentum
- … contracts (isometric) to control hip flexion and knee extension
- Knee … contract (concentric) to bring the knee to extension
- Ankle … contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Mid swing:
- Hip extensors contract (eccentric) to control hip flexion
- Gracilis contracts (concentric) to keep the hip and knee in flexion
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to keep the lower leg off the ground
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Terminal swing:
- Hip extensors contract (eccentric) to control hip flexion via momentum
- Gracilis contracts (isometric) to control hip flexion and knee extension
- Knee extensors contract (concentric) to bring the knee to extension
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
Muscle activities - Mid Swing vs Terminal Swing
- Mid swing:
- Hip extensors contract (…) to control hip flexion
- Gracilis contracts (concentric) to keep the hip and knee in flexion
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to keep the lower leg off the ground
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Terminal swing:
- Hip extensors contract (…) to control hip flexion via momentum
- Gracilis contracts (…) to control hip flexion and knee extension
- Knee extensors contract (concentric) to bring the knee to extension
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Mid swing:
- Hip extensors contract (eccentric) to control hip flexion
- Gracilis contracts (concentric) to keep the hip and knee in flexion
- Knee flexors contract (concentric) to keep the lower leg off the ground
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Terminal swing:
- Hip extensors contract (eccentric) to control hip flexion via momentum
- Gracilis contracts (isometric) to control hip flexion and knee extension
- Knee extensors contract (concentric) to bring the knee to extension
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
Positions of the joints - Toe Off vs Initial Swing
- Toe off:
- Hip …
- Knee …
- Ankle …flexion
- 1st MTPJ …flexion
- Initial Swing:
- Hip …/…
- Knee …
- Ankle neutral/…flexion
- 1st MTPJ …flexion/neutral
-
Toe off:
- Hip neutral
- Knee flexion
- Ankle plantarflexion
- 1st MTPJ dorsiflexion
-
Initial Swing:
- Hip neutral/flexion
- Knee flexion
- Ankle neutral/dorsiflexion
- 1st MTPJ dorsiflexion/neutral
Muscle activities - Toe Off vs Initial Swing
- Toe off:
- Hip flexors contract (concentric) to start hip flexion
- … contracts (concentric) to assist the knee in flexion
- … contracts (concentric) to bring the knee into flexion
- Ankle … contract (concentric) to propels the body forward THEN Ankle … contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Initial Swing:
- Hip flexors contract (concentric) to keep the hip in flexion
- … contracts (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Ankle … contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Toe off:
- Hip flexors contract (concentric) to start hip flexion
- Gracilis contracts (concentric) to assist the knee in flexion
- Gastroc contracts (concentric) to bring the knee into flexion
- Ankle plantarflexors contract (concentric) to propels the body forward THEN Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Initial Swing:
- Hip flexors contract (concentric) to keep the hip in flexion
- Gracilis contracts (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
Muscle activities - Toe Off vs Initial Swing
- Toe off:
- Hip flexors contract (concentric) to start hip flexion
- Gracilis contracts (concentric) to assist the knee in flexion
- Gastroc contracts (concentric) to bring the knee into flexion
- Ankle plantarflexors contract (concentric) to … the body forward THEN Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Initial Swing:
- Hip flexors contract (concentric) to keep the hip in …
- Gracilis contracts (concentric) to keep the knee in …
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Toe off:
- Hip flexors contract (concentric) to start hip flexion
- Gracilis contracts (concentric) to assist the knee in flexion
- Gastroc contracts (concentric) to bring the knee into flexion
- Ankle plantarflexors contract (concentric) to propels the body forward THEN Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
- Initial Swing:
- Hip flexors contract (concentric) to keep the hip in flexion
- Gracilis contracts (concentric) to keep the knee in flexion
- Ankle dorsiflexors contract (concentric) to keep the foot off the ground
Gait Terms
- Both feet in contact with ground (together - stance together) - … support
- One foot in contact with ground, one in swing - … support
- Both feet in contact with ground (together - stance together) - double support
- One foot in contact with ground, one in swing - single support


