PHTY100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Upper Limb, Trendelenburg Gait, Cerebral Palsy
10. Gait
• Terminology
o Gait: refers to the manner or style of walking
o Gait cycle: a fundamental unit to describe the gait during ambulation. This occurs
from the time when the heel of one foot strikes the ground to the time at which the
heel of the same foot contacts the ground again
o Stride length: the interval between 2 sequential initial floor contacts from the same
limb
o Step length: the interval between an initial contact from one foot to the initial
contact of the other foot
o Stance phase: the entire period during which the foot is on the ground
o Swing phase: the time the foot is in the air
o Initial contact: the instant the foot makes contact with the ground
o Loading response: body weight transfer from initial contact through until the
opposite limb is lifted for swing
o Mid stance: initial phase of single leg support where momentum moves mass over
forefoot
o Terminal stance phase: completes single leg support. Body weight moves ahead of
forefoot
o Pre-swing phase: final phase of stance, represents functional commitment to
initiating forward motion prior to swing phase
o Initial swing phase: the lift off of the foot from the floor
o Mid swing phase: middle area of swing when foot is opposite the stance foot
o Terminal swing phase: last phase of swing in preparation for initial contact
o Heel strike: the onset of stance made by the contact of the heel onto the ground
o Toe off: the lift off of the big toe from contact point on the ground
o Ground reaction force (GRF): the force exerted by the ground on a body in contact
with it
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• 10.1 Define and describe the stance and swing phases of the human gait cycle
o What is gait
• Moving across a surface
• Walking
• Cyclical - repetitious sequence of limb motions to move body forward
o Contains two main phases
• Stance - foot in contact with ground
• Swing - no ground contact
o Characteristic unique to walking is the double stance phase
o Characteristic to running is double swing phase
• 10.2 Describe the range of motion of the lower limb joints during normal gait
o Hip
• Ranges from 30° flexion to 20° extension (total range 50°)
• Hip motion allows pelvis and trunk to remain erect whilst body weight moves
over supporting foot.
o Knee
• Ranges from approx. 60° flexion to 0° extension (total range 55° to 60°)
• Key to stance stability
• Reduces the length of the swinging limb and hence facilitates foot clearance in
swing phase- knee flexion
o Ankle
• Ranges from 20° plantarflexion to 5° dorsiflexion (total range 25°)
• Plantarflexion reduces impact of heel contact at loading response.
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• Dorsiflexion through mid-stance to terminal stance facilitates advancement of
body weight over foot.
• Plantarflexion prepares limb for swing phase by transforming extended knee
into freely flexing joint.
• Dorsiflexion during swing allows for foot clearance
o Pelvis
• Movement (tilt) around an AP axis
▪ Tendency to tilt downward to the swing (non-supported) limb
• Contralateral gluteus medius and minimus (abductors) limit tilt
during stance phase
o Trunk
• At pelvis
▪ Anterior (forward) rotation over swinging limb
• Reduces the amount of hip flexion needed
• At thorax and shoulder
▪ Posterior (backward) over swinging limb
▪ Upper limb swings forward with contralateral lower limb
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Document Summary
Gait, terminology, gait: refers to the manner or style of walking, gait cycle: a fundamental unit to describe the gait during ambulation. Body weight moves ahead of forefoot: pre-swing phase: final phase of stance, represents functional commitment to initiating forward motion prior to swing phase. In the static anatomical position the cog falls just anterior to the vertebra s2. Is at its highest level during mid-stance phase of gait: vertical movements of cog, approximately 3-5cm in amplitude, highest point is at mid stance. Lowest point is at double support: lateral movements of cog, due to lateral transference of body weight from one leg to the other, approximately 4cm total (2cm each side) Largest displacement is at mid stance: 10. 5 list the features of gait designed to minimise movements of the centre of gravity during normal gait, amount of movement of cog is limited so as to, minimise energy expenditure.
