732 Kinematics of Gait Cycle

pelvis in the sagittal plane

• anterior to posterior tilt of approximately 2-4°

• motion increases with speed of gait which leads to an increase in functional leg length and step length

hip in the sagittal plane

• maximal extension occurs prior to toe off

• maximal flexion occurs prior to heel contact

• normal walking requires 10° of extension and 30° of flexion

knee in the sagittal plane

• initial phase of knee flexion from heel strike to foot flat to prepare for weight acceptance and provide shock absorption

• full knee extension occurs near heel off

• knee flexion occurs during initial swing to clear the foot

• maximal knee flexion of approximately 60° occurs by mid swing

• knee reaches almost full knee extension just before heel contact

ankle in the sagittal plane

• slightly plantarflexes at heel contact to allow foot to reach the ground

• the ankle dorsiflexes from foot flat to just past heel off

• maximal dorsiflexion is approximately 10°

• maximal plantarflexion is approximately 20°

1st MTP joint in sagittal plane

• 45-55° extension required for gait

• a decrease in motion results in a toe out pattern

• decrease in motion is a less efficient gait pattern

pelvis in the frontal plane

• lateral tilt or pelvic obliquity of approximately 1.5cm superior and inferior

• drops slightly during weight acceptance and rises to its maximum value during swing

hip in the frontal plane

• total motion is approximately 10°: 5° of abduction & 5° of adduction

• adduction occurs during weight acceptance

• hip abducts at approximately 20% of the gait cycle

• maximal abduction during swing

knee in the frontal plane

• relatively little motion

• stable in plane

talocrural joint in the frontal plane

bony alignment limits any motion in this plane

subtalar joint in the frontal plane

• maximal eversion is 2° at midstance when there is maximal weight acceptance

• maximal inversion is 6° and occurs just prior to toe off

• foot becomes more rigid to allow for push off

when is the subtalar joint everting

0-30% and ~55-100% to accept weight and increase pliability

when is the subtalar joint inverting

30-55% to assist in toe off and increase stability

medial longitudinal arch

• at heel strike the arch begins to flatten

• during push off, through the windlass effect, the arch begins to return to its maximal height, which is achieved by toe off

pelvis, femur, and tibia in the transverse plane during heel contact-foot flat

internally rotating

pelvis, femur, and tibia in the transverse plane during midstance-push off

externally rotating

pelvis, femur, and tibia in the transverse plane during toe off-late swing

internally rotating

transverse plane- pliability

We accept weight (absorb energy) through internal rotation. There is increased pliability & decreased stability during this phase

transverse plane- stability

We externally rotate to increase the stability of the limb and prepare for push off. Without that stability, push off is not as effective

spine moving during gait

the opposite direction at the pelvis in the transverse plane to keep the trunk in a relatively erect and straight posture through the head

shoulder girdle

moves in the opposite direction of the pelvis approximately 7-9° relative to the pelvis to maintain the appearance of not moving

shoulder flexion during gait

flexes as ipsilateral hip extends

elbow flexion during gait

flexes as the shoulder flexes