Introduction To The Gait Cycle

Front 1

Gait cycle

Terminology

Back 1

Gait cycle: one stride (two steps)•

Front 2

Periods

Terminology

2

Back 2

Periods: stance and swing

Front 3

Phases

Terminology

(8)

Back 3

Phases (8)

1.Initial contact

2.Loading response

3.Mid stance

4.Terminal stance

5.Pre-swing

6.Initial swing

7.Mid swing

8.Terminal swing

Front 4

Functional tasks

Terminology

(3)

Back 4

Functional tasks (3)

1. weight acceptance swing
   
2. Single limb support
   
3. limb advancement

Front 5

Rockers

Terminology

(4)

Back 5

Rockers (4):

1. heel
2. ankle
3. forefoot
4. toe

Front 6

Phases and functional

tasks of the gait cycle

Back 6

Front 7

Phases of the gait cycle

Back 7

Phases of the gait cycle

Stance (~60%)

1.Initial contact

2.Loading response

3.Mid stance

4.Terminal stance

5.Pre-swing

Swing (~40%)

6.Initial swing

7.Mid swing

8.Terminal swing

Front 8

1. Initial contact

Back 8

1. Initial contact DLS

•The moment the foot (heel) first contacts the ground

•Represents first ~2% of the total gait cycle

•Initial period of DLS

Front 9

2. Loading response

Back 9

2. Loading response DLS

•Period between initial contact to ‘toe off’ of the opposite foot

•Represents ~2-10% of the total gait cycle

•Period of DLS, ending when opposite foot leaves ground

Front 10

3. Mid stance

Back 10

3. Mid stance SLS

•Period from when opposite foot leaves the ground till heel rise of the other foot

•Represents ~10-30% of the total gait cycle

•COM moves over stance leg

•Period of SLS

Ends when heel starts to leave ground

Front 11

4. Terminal stance

Back 11

4. Terminal stance SLS

•Period from heel rise of foot to initial contact of opposite foot

•Represents ~30-50% of the total gait cycle

•Period of SLS, ending with initial contact of the opposite foot

Front 12

5. Pre-swing

Back 12

5. Pre-swing DLS

•Period from initial contact of opposite foot to toe-off of foot

•Represents ~50-60% of the total gait cycle

•Second period of DLS, ending when toes of supporting limb leave the ground

Front 13

6. Initial swing

Back 13

6. Initial swing SLS

•Period from toe-off to point where feet sit opposite from each other

•Represents ~60-73% of the total gait cycle

•Second period of SLS

Ends at point when feet cross over each other.

Front 14

7. Mid swing

Back 14

7. Mid swing SLS

•Period from feet being opposite each other to tibia of swinging leg being vertical (perpendicular to ground)

•Represents ~73-87% of the total gait cycle

•Period of SLS

Ends when tiber is vertical

Front 15

8. Terminal swing

Back 15

8. Terminal swing

•Period from vertical tibia to moment just prior to initial contact

•Represents ~87-100% of the total gait cycle

•Period of SLS, ending with initial contact(new gait cycle)

Ends just before heel hits ground

Front 16

Functional events of the gait cycle

1.Weight acceptance

Back 16

Functional events of the gait cycle

1.Weight acceptance

(initial contact → loading response)

•Most demanding functional task (first 10%)

1.Shock attenuation

•Deceleration

2.Transfer weight to the stance leg

3.Maintain forward progression

•Shock attenuation is achieved through the eccentric contraction of:

•Anterior leg muscles → controlled ankle plantarflexion

•Ankle invertors (tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior) → controlled ankle eversion

•Quadriceps → controlled knee flexion

•Gluteal group → controlled hip flexion

•Transfer of weight to the stance limb is achieved by:

•Hip adduction of the stance limb, controlled by eccentric contraction of the hip abductors

•Continuation of forward progression is achieved by:

•Heel rocker (posterior surface of the calcaneus)

Front 17

Functional events of the gait cycle

2.Single limb support

Back 17

2.Single limb support

(mid stance → terminal stance)

1.Forward progression; body passes from behind the stationary foot to being in front of the stationary foot

2.Maintain stability

•Represents approximately 40% of the gait cycle

•Achieved through the ankle, forefoot and toe rockers

Front 18

Functional events of the gait cycle

3.Swing limb advancement

Back 18

3.Swing limb advancement

(pre swing → terminal swing)

Goal is to ‘unload’ and move the swing leg from behind the body, to in being in front of the body

1.Preparation for swing/acceleration of the limb

2.Ground clearance

3.Swing limb advances from behind the body to in front of the body

Front 19

Rockers

Back 19

Rockers

•Can be used to describe mechanisms to enhance forward progression during the stance phase of the gait cycle

1.Heel

2.Ankle

3.Forefoot

4.Toe

Front 20

Heel rocker

Back 20

Heel rocker

•During walking, the heel is typically the first part of the foot to contact the ground

•The rounded plantar/posterior surface of the calcaneus (tuberosity) acts as the fulcrum

•Allows the foot to be lowered to the ground, maintains forward progression

inishal contact and load response

Front 21

Ankle rocker

Back 21

Ankle rocker

•Once the foot has been lowered to the ground the body must move from behind the foot to being in front of the foot

•The ankle becomes the fulcrum as the tibia passes over the ankle/foot, maintaining forward progression

•Determined by ankle joint dorsiflexion range of motion

Use ankle to DF

Mid stance

Front 22

Forefoot rocker

Back 22

Forefoot rocker

•As the heel lifts of the ground, bodyweight is transferred to the forefoot

•The rounded, plantar surfaces of the metatarsal heads act as the fulcrum, maintaining forward progression

•Determined by the dorsiflexion range of motion at the metatarsophalangeal joints

Test first MTPJ

jacks test

S & f AHL will have problems

Front 23

Toe rocker

Back 23

Toe rocker

•Plantar surface of the hallux and most anterior aspect of medial forefoot

•Last pivot/point of contact as limb prepares for swing

•Contralateral limb will now be in contact with the ground (heel rocker)

Last point to push off ground

Pre swing

Also be using heel rockers of other foot when heel rockers