Translatory

progression of the body as a

whole, produced by coordinated, rotatory
movements of the body segments.

Series

of rhythmical , alternating
movements of the trunk & limbs which
result in the forward progression of the
center of gravity.

Series

of controlled falls

The gait cycle includes the activities that

occur from the point of initial contact of one
lower extremity to the point at which the
same extremity contacts the ground again.
During one gait cycle each extremity
passes through two phases
A STANCE phase
A SWING phase

Stance Phase comprises 60% of gait cycle

Swing Phase comprises the remaining 40%
of the cycle.
Period of double-support /double limb
support occurs twice in a gait cycle
Occurs as 20% of gait cycle

RANCHOS LOS AMIGOS

DEFINITION

Stance phase

TRADITIONAL DEFINITION

Stance Phase

Initial Contact
Loading Response

Heel strike (HS)

Foot flat (FF)

Midstance
Terminal Stance

Midstance (MS)
Heel off (HO)

Pre-Swing

Toe off (TO)

Swing Phase

Swing Phase

Initial Swing
Mid swing

Acceleration
Mid swing

Terminal Swing

Decceleration

Heel strike refers to the instance at which the

heel of the leading extremity strikes the ground.
RLA: Initial contact - same as above

Foot flat occurs immediately after heel strike,

when the whole foot fully contacts the ground.
RLA: Loading Response - occurs immediately following

initial contact and continues until the contralateral

extremity lifts off the ground at the end of the doublesupport phase.

Midstance is the point at which the body weight

is directly over the supporting lower extremity
RLA: Midstance begins when the contralateral

extremity lifts of the ground and continues to a

position in which the body has progressed over and
ahead of the supporting extremity

 Heel

off the point at which the heel of the

reference extremity leaves the ground.
RLA: Terminal stance is the period from the

end of midstance to a point just prior to initial

contact of the contralateral extremity or
following the heel off of the reference
extremity.

Toe

off the point at which only the toes of

the ipsilateral extremity is in contact with
the ground
RLA: Preswing encompasses the period from

just following heel off to toe off.

Acceleration begins once the toe of the

reference(ipsilateral) extremity leaves the
ground and continues until midswing, or the
point at which the swinging extremity is directly
under the body
RLA: Initial swing begins at the same point as

acceleration and continues until maximum knee

flexion of the reference(ipsilateral) extremity occurs.

Midswing Occurs when the ipsilateral

extremity passes directly beneath the body.

RLA: Midswing the period immediately following

maximum knee flexion and continues until the tibia

is in a vertical position.

 Deceleration

occurs after midswing

when the tibia passes beyond the
perpendicular and the knee is
extending in preparation for heel
strike.
RLA: Terminal swing from the point at

which the tibia is in the vertical position

to a point just prior to initial contact.

RLA
Initial Contact
Loading Response
Midstance
Terminal Stance
Pre-Swing
Initial Swing
Mid swing
Terminal Swing

TRADITIONAL

Heel strike
Heel strike to foot flat
Foot flat to midstance
Midstance to heel off
Toe off
Toe off to acceleration
Acceleration to midswing
Midswing to deceleration

Adjustments made by the body that help to keep

movements of the bodys COG to a minimum.
Minimize up and down, side to side movts of the
COG producing a smooth sinusoidal curve of the
COG.

Pelvic rotation
Happens in periods of double support.
Lengthens extremities to prevent too much lowering of COG.

Lateral Pelvic Tilt

Seen on non weight bearing (NWB) leg , controlled
eccentrically by the gluteus muscles on the weight
bearing(WB) side.
If greater than 5 = abnormal, trendelendburg gait

 Knee flexion at midstance

Controlled by quads
Decreases the height of COG during
midstance, seen on WB side.

Stride length from Heel strike(HS) of reference

extremity to the next HS of same extremity.
Stride duration time it takes to complete or
accomplish one stride, synonymous with gait
cycle duration.
Step length from HS of reference extremity to
the HS of contralateral extremity.
Step width from midline of the heel of the
reference extremity to the heel of the
contralateral extremity.
Narrow = weakness of the LE.
Wide = decreased balance

Cadence no. of steps /min

Normal : 90 120 steps/min

Degree of toe out - 7 in walking, 15 in standing

Joint

If GRF passes Anterior

to joint line

If GRF passes
Posterior to joint line

Ankle

DF moment

PF moment

Knee

Extension moment

Flexion moment

Hip

Flexion moment

Extension moment

Joint

Heel strike

Foot Flat

Midstance

Ankle

Post.

Post.

Ant.

Knee

Ant.

Post.

Ant.

Hip

Ant.

Ant.

Post.

GRF while walking

 Stance

Phase

Joint

HS

FF

MS

HO

TO

Hip

20 -30
flexion;
Gmax
eccentric

5
flexion;
Gmax
concentri
c

Neutral;
Gmax
concentri
c to no
activity

10-20
extensio
n;
iliopsoas
eccentric

Neutral;
Iliopsoas
concentri
c

Knee

Neutral;
Quads
concentri
c

5 - 15
flexion;
Quads
eccentric

Extends
to
neutral
or slight
flexion

No
activity

35
flexion;
Quads
eccentric
to no
activity

Ankle

Neutral;
Pretibials
isometric

15 PF;
5-10
PreDF; Calf
tibials
eccentric
eccentric

Neutral;
Calf
concentri
c

20 PF;
Calf
concentri
c

 Swing

Phase

Joint

Acceleration
to MS

MS to
Deceleration

Hip

20-30 flexion;
iliopsoas
concentric

20-30 flexion;
Gmax eccentric

Knee

Up to 65
flexion;
hamstrings
concentric

65 flexion to
extension;
hams eccentric
and quads
concentric

Ankle

10 DF to
neutral; pretibials
concentric

Neutral;
Pretibials
isometric

 Trunk

rotates forward and opposite

to the rotation of the pelvis during
gait.
The upper extremities also swing
forward opposite to the stepping leg.
This is termed as reciprocal arm swing.

Requires greater mobility at the hips and the

knees
Requires greater strength in the lower
extremities
Stance phase is 64%

Components of stance phase during stair

climbing

Weight acceptance
Pull up
Forward continuance

Swing phase is 36%

Components of swing phase during stair climbing
Foot clearance
Foot placement

Running is similar to walking BUT, it differs

significantly in a number of ways, for
example:

No period of double support

Float periods (both feet airborne)
Requires greater balance
Requires greater strength
Requires greater ROM at hip, knee, and ankle joints
Involves greater excursion of center of mass
Involves greater ground reaction forces
Stance phase is reduced to 32%
Swing phase is increased to 68%

base is wider until 4 yrs

no heel strike until 2 yrs - contact is
made with a flat foot
stride length and velocity is less
cadence is greater
reduced knee flexion in stance phase
until 2 yrs of age
no reciprocal arm swing until 4 yrs
adult stride length, velocity & cadence
are obtained around 15 yrs of age

Antalgic gait
due to pain
increased cadence
shorter step length on affected leg

Circumducted Gait

Hip and knee jt. Problem

Possible recent casting
Leg length discrepancy
Circumduction of affected extremity

Calcaneus Gait

Ankle DF contracture
Spastic DF

Digitigrade

Walking on toes
Pain on hind foot during WB
Spastic PF
Ankle PF contracture

Foot Slap/ Foot drop

Weakness / Paralysis of DF

Steppage Gait

Weakness / Paralysis of DF

Quadriceps Gait

Forward lurch to extend knee

Weakness / lack of activation of quads

Gluteus max Gait

Backward leaning to create hip extension
Weakness/ lack of activation of the hip extensors

Genu recurvatum gait

Hyperextension of the knee during MS

Spastic quads and weak hamstrings

Trendelenburg Gait (bilateral = waddling gait)

Weak hip abductors on stance leg
Trunk lean to weak hip to compensate and prevent

dropping of contralateral hip

Hemiplegic Gait

Vaulting sound side

Can present with a combination of circumduction/

steppage/ foot slap etc.