Gait
Introduction
Ambulation or locomotion. Consists of 1 stride 2 phases ,
and 8 events. Is a translatory progression of the body as a whole
produced by a coordination rotary movements of body
segments.
Movements of body segments
The translatory progression is rhythmic and characterized
by alternating propulsive and retropulsive motions of the lower
extremities.
During gait the lower extremities support, balance, carry, and
transfer the head, arms, and trunk (HAT) which constitute 75%
of the body weight, the head and arm 25% and the trunk 50%.
Tasks accomplished with each gait cycle .
• Acceptance and balance of HAT.
• Transfer HAT from one extremity to another.
• Lift 1 extremity of the ground and place in front of
the other in alternating pattern.
Neuromuscular component of gait
1. Activation of gait neuromuscular in central nervous
system.
2. Transmission of neural commands to the peripheral
system.
3. Muscular contraction and producing movement.
4. Generation of forces and moment at the joints.
5. Regeneration of the joint forces and moments.
6. Linear and angular displacement of the bodies
segments.
7. Generation of ground reaction forces.
Gait Cycle
During bi-pedal locomotion, there are 2 distance phases:
Stance phase ( 60-62% ): contact phase
Biomec hanic s
Stance phase
Heel strike or Initial contact
- The moment when the red foot just touches the floor.
- Normally the heel is the first part of the foot to touch the
ground.
- Beginning of the 1st double support.
- Mean while, the blue leg is at the end terminal stance.
Foot flat or loading response
- 0 to 12 percent of the gait cycle.
- The double stance period beginning with the foot contacting
the floor until the other foot is lifted for swing.
- Body weight is transferred on to the red leg.
- Meanwhile the blue leg is the pre-swings phase.
Mid-stance or mid stance
- Single limb support during which one limb must support the
entire body weight and provide tranquil stability while
progression must be continued.
Heel off or terminal stance
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- Begins when the red heel rises and continues until the heel of
the blue foot hits the ground.
- Body weight progresses beyond the red foot as increased hip
extension puts the leg in a more trailing position.
Toe off or pre swing
- The 2nd double support stance interval in the gait cycle.
- It begins with the initial contact of the blue foot and ends with
red toe off.
- Ground contact by the blue leg causes the red leg to increase
ankle planter flexion, knee flexion, and decrease hip extensor.
Swing phase
Acceleration or Initial swings
- Begins when the foot is lifted from the floor and ends when
the swinging foot is opposite the stance foot.
- The red leg is advanced by increased hip and knee flexion.
- The ankle only partially planter flexion to natural to ensure
ground clearance.
- It is during this phase that a foot drop gait is most
appearant.
- The blue leg is in mid stance.
Mid swing or mid- swing
- Continues from the end point of the initial swing and
continues until the swinging limb is in front of the body and
the tibia is vertical.
- Advancement of the red leg is accomplished by further hip
flexion.
- The ankle is allowed to extend in response to gravity while
the ankle continues dorsiflexion to neutral.
- The blue leg is in late mid- stance.
Deceleration or terminal swing
- Begins when the tibia of red is vertical and ends when the
foot touches the floor
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• Figure 14-33
Forward and Backward Rotation of the Pelvis
• A small (~ 8°) back- & fore-ward hip rotations occur during
lower extremity advancement
• As the pelvis begins to move forward at preswing and
continues as the swinging extremity advances forward
during initial swing until reaching midstance (max.
elevation of COG) is reached, the pelvis rotate forwardly
to reach natural position.
• Forward pelvis rotation continues beyond neutral on the
swing side through terminal swing to initial contact.
• Figure 14-24
• Meanwhile, an apparent lengthening of the lower
extremities is occurring for both extremities (stance and
swing) as the COG descends to its lowest level in the period
of double support.
• The swinging extremity is lengthened in terminal
swing by the forwardly rotating pelvis
• The weight-bearing extremity is lengthened in
preswing by the posterior position of the pelvis.
• This relative lengthening helps to prevent an excessive
drop of the COG and maintains the COG at a higher level
than would be possible if no pelvic rotation occurred.
Physiologic Valgus at the Knee
• The physiologic valgus at the knee reduces the width of the
base of support
• Narrower base of support result in little lateral motion of
the body to shift the COG from one lower extremity to
another over the base of support.
• Figure 14-25
KINEMATICS AND KINETICS OF THE TRUNK AND
UPPER EXTREMITIES
(Trunk)
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(Swing Phase)
• Acceleration to mid swing
• Figure 14-35
• Table 14-7
• Mid swing to deceleration
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• Figure 14-36
• Table 14-8