Gait Flashcards
(55 cards)
What are the two main phases of the gait cycle?
Stance and Swing
The gait cycle is defined by the temporal event of one leg to the next same temporal event of the same leg.
What percentage of the gait cycle does the swing phase comprise?
Approximately 40%
The swing phase is defined as the moment when the foot is not in contact with the ground.
What is the purpose of the swing phase?
Foot clearance and limb advancement
The swing phase allows the advancing limb to move forward while the foot clears the ground.
What marks the start and end of the swing phase?
The moment that the toes leave the ground until the heel touches the ground.
List the three main stages of the swing phase.
- Acceleration (initial swing)
- Mid swing
- Deceleration (terminal swing)
What starts the acceleration stage of the swing phase?
Toes leave contact with the ground
This phase ends at mid swing when the advancing limb is midway forward.
What is the main characteristic of the deceleration stage?
Deceleration of forward momentum of the advancing limb to correctly place it on the ground.
What is the main characteristic of the initial swing?
Acceleration of the moving leg, foot clears the ground.
What is the main characteristic of mid swing?
Continuous knee and hip flexion to clear the foot
The swing limb passes the stance limb during this phase.
What starts the deceleration stage of the swing phase?
Swing limb is in front of the stance limb
This phase ends when the heel touches the ground.
What percentage of the gait cycle does the stance phase comprise?
Approximately 60%
The stance phase corresponds to the moment when the foot is in contact with the ground.
What is the purpose of the stance phase?
Stability, balance, forward propulsion
The stance phase is critical for maintaining body support while moving.
What defines the start and end of the stance phase?
The moment that the heel touches the ground until the toes leave the ground.
List the five main stages of the stance phase.
- Heel strike (initial contact)
- Foot flat (loading response)
- Mid stance
- Heel off (terminal stance)
- Toes off (pre swing)
What starts the heel strike phase of the stance stage?
When the heel touches the ground
This phase ends before the foot is flat on the ground.
What is the main characteristic of the heel strike stage?
Foot is correctly placed (heel first) for shock absorption.
What is the main characteristic of the foot flat stage?
Shock is absorbed as forward momentum is preserved
This phase starts right before the foot becomes flat.
What defines the start and end of the foot flat stage/loading response?
Starts right before the foot is flat, ending when COG starts the move forward to the ankle joint.
What begins the mid stance stage?
Foot flat on the ground while COG moves anteriorly
This phase ends when the heel starts to come off the ground.
What is the main characteristic of the mid stance stage?
COG moves anteriorly and is higher with smaller BOS.
Greatest point of instability.
What starts the heel off stage/terminal stance?
Heel lifts off
This phase ends as the toes start to lift off.
What is the main characteristic of the heel off stage?
COG is anterior to the stance foot.
What is the main characteristic of the toes off stage/pre swing?
Forefoot remains on the ground while knee flexion is required
This assists with foot clearance during the swing.
What defines the start and end of the toes off stage/pre swing?
Starts with toes coming off the ground and ends with the initial swing (foot off the ground).