Gait, Part 1

EBVM Quiz 3

What is gait?

the pattern of an animal’s limb movement and coordination during locomotion

list the factors of gait:

• vision

• proprioception (spatial awareness)

• balance

• coordination

• strength

• musculoskeletal biomechanics

• pain

what are the components of strength?

• stride length and symmetry

• stance and swing phases

• joint movements

• weight distribution

list the types of gait

• walk

• amble

• pace

• trot

• canter

• gallop

define the gait: walk

2 or 3 feet on the ground at any given time. only canine gait in which there are ever 3 feet on the ground

define the gait: amble

faster form of the walk (not preferred). very inefficient gait. rear end sways side to side

when is the ‘amble’ gait used?

only used for short period when transitioning from walk to trot or from trot to walk

define the gait: pace

abnormal gait for most dog breeds. (Komondor is an exception)

inefficient gait. Ipsilateral limbs move forward together with other 2 limbs bearing weight. There is a moment when body is suspended in the air. only 2 feet on the ground at any given time.

why is ‘pace’ an inefficient gait?

center of gravity shifts side to side

why is ‘amble’ an inefficient gait?

rear end sways side to side, wasted horizontal energy

define the gait: trot

most efficient gait. often gait of choice for gait evaluation. diagonal limbs move forward together while other 2 limbs bear weight. moment when body is suspended in the air. only 2 limbs together on the ground at any given time

define the gait: canter

allows very sharp turns with greater drive from the rear.

there are 2 types of canter. list and define them.

rotary or cross canter

• predominant canter in dogs (90%)

• different lead limbs in front and rear

transverse canter

• predominant canter in horses

• same side leads in front and rear

define the gait: gallop

spine flexes, bringing rear feet forward. spine extends, bringing front feet forward.

there are 2 types of gallop. list and define them.

rotary gallop

• predominant gallop in dogs

• different lead limbs in front and rear

transverse gallop

• predominant gallop in horses

• same side lead limbs in front and rear

list the types of gait abnormalities

• lameness

• ataxia

• paresis

• weakness

• hypermetria

• circumduction

define lameness

limping to avoid placing full weight on the affected limb (know that there’s a lameness scale from 0-5)

what is a clinical sign of thoracic limb lameness in a horse?

head nod/bob: head will swing upward when the lame limb hits the floor, head drops back down when the sound thoracic limb hits the floor

what is a clinical sign of pelvic limb lameness in a horse?

pelvic hike: pelvic drops down when sound limb hits the floor, pelvis swings upward when lame limb hit the floor

define ataxia

“incoordination”, clumsy or “drunken” gait. foot placement is unpredictable. often due to loss of spatial awareness of the trunk and/or limbs

what are causes of ataxia?

brain disease, spinal cord disease, vestibular dysfunction, drugs/toxins

define paresis

“reduced voluntary motor”

what are causes of paresis?

• upper motor neuron dysfunction

• lower motor neuron dysfunction

• brain disease

• spinal cord disease

what is paresis of one limb called?

monoparesis

what is paresis of one side called?

hemiparesis

what is paresis of pelvic limb only called?

paraparesis

what is paresis of all limb called?

tetraparesis

define weakness

“reduced strength”. short-strided gait that allows more even distribution of weight. similar to a little old lady shuffling around her house in her slippers

what are causes of weakness?

• lower motor neuron dysfunction

• neuromuscular disease

  • neuropathy

  • myopathy

  • junctionopathy

• systemic illness

define the gait: hypermetria

“high stepping gait”. overexaggerated flexion of the limbs

what are causes of hypermetria?

• cerebellar disease, stringhalt (horses), behavior (rare)

define the gait: circumduction

“swinging of the limb with a wide circular arc”

reduced limb flexion, requires trunk to swing side to side

what are causes of circumduction?

• joint pain

• arthrodesis

• chronic upper motor neuron disease

• musculoskeletal disease

  • infraspinatus tendon contraction

  • gracilis or semitendinosis myopathy

• neuromuscular disease

  • myotonia or pseudomyotonia

  • tetanus

list some specific abnormal gaits

• 2-engine gait

• radial gait

• femoral gait

• sciatic gait

what are causes of 2-engine gait?

C6-T2 myelopathy (LMN weakness of the TLs, UMN paresis of the PLs)

causes of radial gait?

radial nerve dysfunction, C8-T2 myelopathy, pain

causes of femoral gait?

femoral nerve dysfunction, L4-L6 myelopathy, pain

causes of sciatic gait?

sciatic nerve dysfunction, L6-Si myelopathy, pain, diabetes (cats)

a patient is unable to walk without assistance due to reduced voluntary motor function of the pelvic limbs. identify the gait.

a patient exhibits a dropped elbow and is knuckling on the right thoracic limb. the patient is able to advance the limb but unable to bear weight. identify the gait.

what is a possible cause of ataxia?

what is a possible cause of weakness?

what is a possible cause of hypermetria?

what is the cause of a 2-engine gait?

what is a possible cause of a sciatic gait in a cat?