Gait

A gait cycle is the repetitive pattern of foot movements that occur when walking or running. It’s defined as the time between when the heel of one foot touches the ground and when it touches the ground again. There are 2 phases of gait with 8 sub-phases. The sub-phases can be classified further into the Ranchos Amigos or traditional terminology.

Definitions

Step length

Distance between 2 successive contact points on opposite feet (Normal: approx. 72cm/28 in.).

Stride length

Distance between successive points of foot-to-foot contact of the same foot (Decreases with age, pain, disease, and fatigue).

Normal patterns of gait

Image #95

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Phases of gait cycle

• Stance phase – 60% of the cycle
• Swing phase – 40% of the cycle

Stance phase (will be denoted as traditional/ranchos los amigos terminology)

• Heel strike/initial contact
  • The beginning of the stance phase when the heel or another part of the foot contacts the ground
  • Nutation of pelvis occurs on stance leg forward movement of sacrum
  • Counternutation of pelvis occurs on swing leg- posterior movement of sacrum
  • Muscles activated
    • Erector spinae- eccentric
    • Gluteus maximus- concentric
    • Quadriceps- eccentric
    • Hamstrings-concentric
    • Anterior tibialis- eccentric
    • Extensor digitorium longus- eccentric
    • Flexor digitorium longus - eccentric
• Foot flat/loading response
  • The portion of the first double support period of the stance phase from the initial contact until the contralateral extremity leaves the ground
    • Muscles activated
      • Erector spinae- concentric
      • Gluteus maximus- concentric
      • Quadriceps - concentric
      • Anterior tibialis- concentric
      • Gastrocnemius- eccentric
      • Extensor digitorium longus- eccentric
      • Flexor digitorium longus - eccentric
• Midstance/midstance
  • The portion of the single limb support stance phase that begins when the contralateral extremity leaves the ground & ends when the body is directed over the supporting limb
    • Muscles activated
      • Iliopsoas- eccentric
      • Gluteus medius- concentric
      • Hamstrings- eccentric
      • Gastrocnemius- concentric
• Heel off/terminal stance
  • The last portion of the single limb support stance phase that begins with heel rise and continues until contralateral extremity contacts the ground
    • Muscles activated
      • Iliopsoas- eccentric
      • Hamstrings- concentric
      • Gastrocnemius- concentric
• Toe off/ preswing
  • The portion of stance that begins the second double support period from the initial contact of the contralateral extremity to lift off the reference extremity
    • Muscles activated
      • Iliopsoas- eccentric
      • Adductor magnus- concentric
      • Hamstrings- concentric
      • Quadraceps- eccentric
      • Anterior tibialis- concentric
      • Gastronemius- eccentric

Swing phase (will be denoted as traditional/ranchos los amigos terminology)

• Acceleration/initial swing
  • The portion of swing from the point when the reference extremity leaves the ground to maximum knee flexion of the same extremity
    • Muscles activated
      • Ilipsoas- concentric
      • Hamstrings- concentric
      • Quadriceps- eccentric
      • Anterior tibialis- concentric
• Mid-swing/mid-swing
  • Portion of the swing phase from maximum knee flexion of the reference extremity to a vertical tibial position
    • Muscles activated
      • Ilipsoas- concentric
      • Hamstrings- eccentric
      • Anterior tibialis- concentric
• Deceleration/terminal swing
  • The portion of the swing phase from a vertical position of the tibia of the reference extremity to just prior to initial contact
    • Muscles activated
      • Ilipsoas- concentric
      • Hamstrings- eccentric
      • Anterior tibialis- concentric

Gait assessment

A gait assessment is a systematic evaluation of an individual’s walking or running pattern to identify any abnormalities or inefficiencies, which can help diagnose underlying medical conditions or injuries.

Keys to a thorough gait assessment:

• Observe the patient walking: Watch them walk towards and away from you, noting their overall gait pattern, speed, and stability.
• Look for abnormalities: Pay attention to any deviations from normal gait, such as:
  • Uneven stride length: One leg appears to take shorter or longer steps than the other.
  • Foot placement: Observe how the heel and toes make contact with the ground.
  • Arm swing: Note the presence and symmetry of arm movement.
  • Pelvic movement: Look for any unusual or excessive pelvic tilting or rotation.
  • Trunk sway: Observe excessive or abnormal trunk movement during walking.
• Assess balance: Observe how the patient maintains balance during walking and turning.
• Evaluate speed: Note whether the patient walks at a normal or unusual speed.
• Evaluate endurance: Observe signs of fatigue or difficulty maintaining gait over a distance.

Primary gait muscles and actions

The muscle activation of muscles was described earlier in chapter. Below you will find specific actions for those muscles.

Definitions

Erector spinae

Extensors of lumbar spine

Gluteus maximus

Extension of the hip

Gluteus medius

Leveling of pelvis; hip abductor

Iliopsoas

Flexion of hip

Adductor magnus

Adduction of hip

Quadriceps femoris

Flexion of the hip; extension of knee

Hamstring

Extension of hip; flexion of knee

Gastroneumius

Extension of knee; plantarflexion of ankle

Tibialis anterior

Dorsiflexion and eversion

Extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus

Extension of toes

Tibialsi posterior

Plantarflexion and inversion

Flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus

Flexion of toes

Important gait terms

• Femoral anteversion: medial rotation of femur
  • Can can be related to medical rotation of tibia, toe in
• Femoral retroversion: lateral rotation of femur
  • Can be related to lateral rotation of tibia, toe out
• Internal tibial torsion: medial rotation of femur
  • Can be related to toe in
• External tibial torsion: lateral rotation of femur
  • Can be related to toe out
• Genu valgum: knock-knees
  • Can be related to internal tibial torsion
• Genu varum; bowleg
  • Can be related to external rotation

Abnormal gait

Antalgic (painful) gait

• Result of injury to the pelvis, hip, knee, ankle, or foot.
• The stance phase on the affected leg is shorter than that on the unaffected leg, because the patient attempts to remove weight from the affected leg as quickly as possible.
  • Example: L knee pain- stance phase of L is shortened.
    • This causes shortened L stride length.
    • This will cause longer R stride length

Ataxic gait

• Results from neurological deficits resulting in abnormal walking patterns characterized by poor coordination and balance
  • Typically presents with clumsy, staggering movements with a wide-based gait

Gluteus medius (trendelenburg’s) gait

• Weakness in the gluteus medius causing an an abnormal gait pattern
  • Increased lateral lean over affected side
  • Dropped hip over unaffected side
  • Hip hike on affected side

Hemiplegic or hemiparetic gait

• Results from weakness or flaccidity in an affected extremity, leading to various gait deficits
  • Examples of hemiparetic gat patterns are; hip weakness or flaccidity may cause circumduction gait during swing phase of gait or anterior tibialis weakness could cause foot slap gait during initial contact of gait

Steppage or drop foot gait

• Weak or paralyzed anterior tibialis muscles cause the foot to slap the ground upon initial contact.
  • The foot slaps on the ground because of loss of control of the anterior tibialis nerve (innervates dorsiflexor muscles)