Gait terminology

Question 1

% of gait cycle: stance/swing

Answer 1

stance: 60%
swing: 40%

Question 2

name RLA term for: heel strike

Answer 2

initial contact

Question 3

name RLA term for: foot flat

Answer 3

loading response

Question 4

name RLA term for: midstance

Answer 4

midstance

Question 5

name RLA term for: heel off

Answer 5

terminal stance

Question 6

name RLA term for: toe off

Answer 6

pre-swing

Question 7

name RLA term for: acceleration

Answer 7

initial swing

Question 8

name RLA term for: midswing

Answer 8

midswing

Question 9

name RLA term for: deceleration

Answer 9

terminal swing

Question 10

initial contact

Answer 10

beginning of the stance phase that occurs when the foot touches the ground

Question 11

loading response

Answer 11

amount of time between initial contact and the beginning of the swing phase for the other leg

Question 12

midstance

Answer 12

the point in stance phase when the other foot is off the floor until the body is directly over the stance limb

Question 13

terminal stance

Answer 13

• begins when the heel of the stance limb rises

- ends when the other foot touches the ground

Question 14

pre-swing

Answer 14

• begins when the other foot touches the ground

- ends when the stance foot reaches toe-off

Question 15

initial swing

Answer 15

• begins when stance foot lifts from the floor

- ends with maximal knee flexion during swing

Question 16

midswing

Answer 16

• begins with maximal knee flexion during swing

- ends when the tibia is perpendicular with the ground

Question 17

terminal swing

Answer 17

• begins with tibia perpendicular to the ground

- ends when the foot touches the ground

Question 18

• distance measured between left and right foot during progression of gait
• distance decreases as cadence increases

Answer 18

base of support

Question 19

average base of support for an adult

Answer 19

2-4 inches

Question 20

the number of steps an individual will walk over a period of time

Answer 20

cadence

Question 21

average cadence for an adult

Answer 21

110-120 steps per minute

Question 22

angle formed by each foot’s line of progression and a line intersecting the center of the heel and second toe

Answer 22

degree of toe-out

Question 23

average degree of toe-out for an adult

Answer 23

7˚

Question 24

• refers to the two times during a gait cycle where both feet are on the ground
• time of this increases as the speed of gait decreases
• this phase does not exist during running

Answer 24

double support phase

Question 25

refers to the sequence of motions that occur from IC of the heel to the next consecutive IC of the same heel

Answer 25

gait cycle

Question 26

occurs opposite the thorax in order to maintain balance and regulate speed

Answer 26

pelvic rotation

Question 27

average pelvic rotation for an adult

Answer 27

total of 8˚ (4˚ forward with swing leg and 4˚ backward with stance leg)

Question 28

occurs when only one foot is on the ground and occurs twice during a single gait cycle

Answer 28

single support phase

Question 29

distance measured between R heel strike and the following R heel strike

Answer 29

stride length

Question 30

average stride length for an adult

Answer 30

56 inches