Gait - Kinesiology 2

Heel strike of one foot to heel strike of other foot

Step

2 consecutive contacts of the same foot

Stride

Average step length

28

Average step width

3in

Number steps per min

Cadence

Average cadence

110

Speed at which an individual walks

Walking velocity

Average walking velocity

3mph

Stance=___% Swing=___%

60, 40

• Ankle in Neutral DF

• Knee slightly flexed

• Hip flexed to ~20-30^o 

• Leg in front of body

• Contralateral arm is forward

Heel strike/inital contact

• Shock absorption phase; single leg support

• Weight shift onto LE

• Ankle quickly moves to 5^o-10^o of PF

• Knee flexes ~15^o absorbing shock

• Hip flexed to ~ 20^o; begins to extend

Foot flat/loading response

• LE is in single-leg support (other LE swinging)

• Ankle slight DF

• Knee nears full extension; hip continues to extend

• Both arms are parallel to body

Midstance

• Leg moves behind body

• Ankle DF (Achilles stretch) to prepare to push

• Slight knee flexion

• Slight hip extension

Heel off/terminal stance

• Ankle PF ~15^o 

• Knee flexed ~30^o ; hip flexing

Toe off/preswing

• “Limb advancement” phase

• Non-WB begins swing leg

• Single leg support on contralateral LE

• Ankle dorsiflexes to allow the foot to clear the ground

• Knee and hip flex

• Leg behind body, but moving fwd

Acceleration/initial contact

• Neutral ankle

• Knee flexed ~45^o- 50^o; begins to extend

• Hip flexed ~30^o 

• Leg “shortens” to clear the ground

Midswing

• Ankle remains neutral

• Knee almost full extension

• Hip flexed to ~35^o

Terminal swing/deceleration

Weak DF cant eccentric control PF

Foot slap

Weak DF, excessive hip/knee flexion

High step

Cant eccentric control knee flexion, knee slams into extension, trunk flexion

Weak quadriceps

Weak quadriceps causes _____

Ligament stress

Weak hip flexors/DF, use lumbar mm to elevate pelvis

Hip hike

Cant shorten leg due to cant flex knee or DF ankle

Circumduction

Hip knee flexion contracture causes ____

Reduce step length

Increase hip flexion results in ____ and ____

Anterior pelvic tilt, lumbar lordosis

Weak hip abductors, cant eccentric control

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