Normal Gait

Gait terminology

• Stance 60% (RLA→ Traditional)

  • Initial contact - heel strike

  • Loading response - foot flat

  • Mid stance

  • Terminal stance - heel off

  • Pre-swing - toe off

• Swing 40% (RLA → Traditional)

  • Initial swing - acceleration

  • Mid swing

  • Terminal swing - Deceleration

Phase of Gait

• Initial contact → loading response → midstance → terminal stance → pre swing

• Initial swing → mid swing → terminal swing

Kinematic data and norms of joint angles

• Sagittal plane- flexion/ extension

• Frontal plane- abduction/ adduction

ROM at hip needed for normal gait

• Stance phase: 0-30 degrees flexion and 0-20 degrees hyperextension

• Swing phase: 20-30 flexion

ROM at knee needed for normal gait

• Stance phase: 0-40 flexion

• Swing phase: 0-60 flexion

ROM at ankle needed for normal gait

• Stance phase: 0-10 DF, 0-20 PF

• Swing phase: 0-20 DF

Muscle activity in the gait cycle- pretibial muscles

• anterior tib, EDL, EHL

• prior to and during heel strike

  • Eccentric contraction: lowers foot to the ground

• Prior to and during swing

  • Concentric contraction: dorsiflexion, clear toes off ground

Muscle activity in the gait cycle- Calf muscles

• Gastrocnemius, soleus (FDL, FHL, post. tib)

• Mid stance

  • Eccentric contraction: control of tibia over the foot

• Heel off

  • concentric contraction: ankle plantar flexion

Muscle activity in the gait cycle- quadriceps

• Vastus medialis/ lateralis/ intermedius, rectus femoris

• Heel strike

  • quads contract eccentrically: control rapid knee flexion and to prevent buckling

• Pre-swing

  • Eccentric contraction: slow down leg (tibia)

Muscle activity in the gait cycle- Hamstrings

• Biceps, semitendinosus, semimembranosus

• Before heel strike

  • Eccentric contraction: protects knee from hyperextension

• Swing phase

  • concentric contraction: knee flexion

Hip Abductors

• Gluteus medius, Gluteus minimus, TFL

• Stance phase

  • Eccentric contraction: stabilize pelvis

Hip adductors

• Adductor longus/ brevis, gracilis, adductor magnus (horizontal and vertical heads)

• Early and late stance

  • concentric contraction: stabilize pelvis