- Walking
- complex movement that produces locomotion
- Gait
- scientific analysis of the pattern of walking
Locomotion
- Definition
- rhythmic displacement of body parts that maintains the animal in constant forward progression
- starting
- stopping
- changes in speed
- alterations in direction
- modifications for changes in slope
- Basic requirements of walking
- continuous support against gravity
- alternating periodic movement of lower limbs
- motor control
- to sequence multiple events
- while transferring body weight from 1 limb to another
Gait cycle
- Fundamental events
- foot strike
- Opposite toe-off
- Opposite foot strike
- Toe-off
- Phases
- Stance
- period of the cycle when foot is in contact with the ground
- Periods
- initial double limb support
- single limb support
- second double limb support
- Swing
- period when the food is in the air
- Periods
- initial swing
- mid swing
- terminal swing
- Full event
- Initial contact (foot strike)
- Opposite toe-off
- Opposite initial contact (foot strike)
- Toe-off
- Foot clearance
- Tibia vertical
- Second foot strike
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Stance phase
- Function
- restores stability/balance
- initiates progression
- potential energy converted to kinetic energy
- conserves energy
5 parts of stance phase
- Initial contact (foot strike)
- momentary event initiating period of stance
- Actions
- knee extended
- ankle neutral
- active muscles
- hamstrings
- ankle dorsiflexors
- Loading response
- Initial period of double limb support
- Actions
- knee flexed
- ankle plantarflex (15 degrees)
- energy converving mechanism
- active muscles (maintain hip & knee stability)
- quadriceps active
- gluteal muscles active
- Midstance
- Single limb support
- Actions
- knee extended
- ankle neutral
- active muscles
- triceps surae
- control tibial advancement
- prevent ankle from dorsiflexing due to body weight
- Terminal stance
- Single limb support
- Actions
- plantar flexion
- causes forefoot axis for limb to pivot (forefoot rocker)
- Pre-swing
- Actions
- knee flexed
- for toe clearance & limb advancement
- ankle plantarflexed
- toes dorsiflex (metatarsophalangeal joints)
- toe still on the ground
Swing phases
3 parts of swing phase
- Initial swing
- Action
- thighs move anteriorly
- Knees flexed
- ankle dorsiflexes
- for foot clearance
- Mid-swing
- Action
- Feet adjacent to tibia vertical
- limb advancement & foot clearance
- tibia in vertical position
- Terminal swing
- Action
- knee extension –> neutral
- deceleration by
- hamstrings
- gluteus maximus
- active muscles
- quadriceps
- dorsiflexors
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Gait analysis
- 3 deviations
- speeds up & slows down slightly
- Rises & falls a few cm
- Weaves side to side slightly
Movements
- Pelvis
- lists
- side to side axis
- rotates
- vertical axis
- undulates
- anteroposterior axis
- Lower limbs
- displaced in all 3 planes
- Knee
- flexion
- Shoulders
- rotate & swing out of phase
Balance
- When feet are fully extended
- hips must rotate along the axis of the spine
- To keep balance
- shoulders swing in the opposite direction
- From the front
- spine is relatively straight
- From the top
- hips & shoulders twist in opposite direction to maintain balance
Movements of foot
