Gait Evaluation Terms & Definitions | Dr. Wanstrath Sports

What are the 6 types of gait cycles?

Walk, trot, canter, gallop, pace, amble

Dogs have a _________ (more/less) flexible spine than horses. And why?

More— less ribs, separate radius/ulna

What are the two phases of the gait cycle?

Stand phase and swing phase

What are the two parts of the stand phase of the gait cycle?

1) braking force as foot makes contact with ground

2) propulsion force

What are the three parts of the swing phase of the gait cycle?

1) leg swings backward from propulsion

2) muscles swing leg forward

3) leg moves back before hitting the ground

What is the cycle of body movements that begins with the contact of one foot and ends when that foot again contacts the ground?

Stride

Which three gaits are symmetric?

Walk, trot, pace

Which two gaits are asymmetric?

Canter, gallop

What is the order that the feet hit the ground in a walk?

RH, RF, LH, LF

Pelvic limb is always followed by same side forelimb

Where does the rear foot fall in comparison to the front foot during a walk?

Just in front of where the front foot was

How many feet are on the ground at any given time during a walk?

2-3 (only gait that will have three feet on ground at once)

What is the order that feet hit the ground during a trot?

RF + LH, then LF and RH

Diagonal limbs strike ground at same time

Are there any moments of suspension in a trot?

Yes

Where does the rear foot fall in comparison to the front foot during a trot?

Exactly where the front limb was, replacing the footprint

What is it called when some breeds have one front leg that remains on the ground when other breeds would be in suspension with all 4 limbs off ground at a trot?

Support trot

Which gait is the most mechanically efficient?

Trot

Where do the forelimbs and pelvic limbs converge on the dog from the front?

Under the dogs body

How do Border collies sacrifice efficiency at a trot to do other things?

Pelvic limbs lie abducted with tarsi internally rotated and paws abducted/externally rotated to allow for stability when lying down and standing back up

Which gait is best for evaluating lameness?

Trot

Why is a trot the best gait for evaluating lameness?

Slow enough and symmetrical for human eye to examine stride length and foot placement and is only stride where there's no help from contralateral limb weight bearing

What is the lead leg?

Second of the forelimb or rear limb to strike the ground

What are the two types of canter?

Rotary and transverse

What is the pattern in which feet hit the ground in a canter?

RH, then LH and RF, then LF (if left leg is lead leg)

In the ________ canter, there lead legs are the same in both front and the rear but in the _________ canter, the lead legs are opposite.

Transverse; rotary

What is the pattern in which feet hit the ground in the rotary canter?

RH, then LH + LF, then RF

When is a rotary canter a great advantage?

When turning

How many moments of suspension are present during a gallop?

2

While ________ (horses/dogs) can use different lead legs in front and hind limb at a gallop, _________ (horses/dogs) use the same lead leg.

Dogs; horses

How do hind limbs and front limbs land during a gallop?

One just in front of the other

Which gait describes when a dog is walking and then begins to speed up gradually?

Amble

True or false: although an amble is a fast walk, there are no moments where 3 feet are on the ground at the same time.

False— are still moments

When do dogs amble?

Want to go fast but tired, want to use different muscles than trot

How do limbs move during a pace?

LF + LH, then RF + RH

Both limbs on same side of body move forward in unison

Which side should the assistant walk on when doing a gait analysis?

Non-affected side

What is the purpose of walking the dog in sharp circles on steps and rough terrain during a gait examination?

Detect subtle ataxia

What do you look for when detecting forelimb lameness during a gait evaluation?

Down on sound

What do you look for when detecting pelvic limb lameness during a gait evaluation?

Pelvic hike

What are the 5 grades of lameness?

1) Hard to observe, not consistent

2) Difficult to observe at a walk, but sometimes can

3) Consistently observed at a trot

4) Lameness obvious at a walk

5) Minimal to non-weight bearing

What is the study of electrical impulses generated in active muscle?

Electromyography

What are the most common methods of kinetic evaluation?

Force plate analysis, temporospatial pressure sensitive walkways

What does a force plate measure?

Ground reaction forces exerted on the limbs as they hit the ground

What evaluation tool involves placing reflective markers on skin and the computer picks up reflective markers?

Kinematic gait evaluation