Stance Phase

activity that occurs when the foot is in contact with the ground

Swing Phase

when the foot is not in contact with the ground 40% of gait cycle

Weight acceptance

When the foot touches the ground and the body weight begins to shift onto that leg

Single Leg Support

Body weight shifts completely onto the stance lef so that the opposite lef can swing forward

Double Support

Both legs are in contact with the ground at the same time

Nonsupport

Time during neither foot is in contact with the ground (running - not walking)

Single Support

One foot in contact with the ground

Heel Strike

Beginnning of stance phase

Foot Flat

The entire foot is in contact with the ground

Midstance

Point at which the body passes over the weight bearing foot

Heel-Off

Following midstance heel rises off the floor

Push-Off

Plantar flexors actively pushing the body forward

Vedrtical Displacement

Wavelike fashion pattern when walking- noting that the center of gravity is being displaced.

Horizontal Displacement

Side to side displacement

Width of Walking Base

Distance between mid points of heel contact

Lateral Pelvic Tilt

Movement of hip as you walk the weight is removed from the lef at toe off

Generally elderly walk slower

Have greater horizontal displacement - slower automatic movements increases the chance of falling

Muscular Weakness/ Paralysis

AKA "Rocking Horse Gait" 

backward - forward motion of the trunk

Quadriceps Weakness

Individual will lean forward over the quadriceps muscles at the earliest part of the stance phase is weight bearing is shifted onto the stance leg.

Hamstring Weakness

During stance phase knee will go into excessive HYPERextension and the knee will snap into EXTENSION

Foot Drop

gravity will cause the foot to fall into plantar flexion when it is off the ground

Foot Slap

Weak ankle dorsiflexors may not be able to support the body weight after heel strike and will thus move forward toward foot flat

Steppage Gait

Knee needs to be lifted higher for the dropped foot to clear the floor

Sore Foot Limp

Gastrocnemius and soleus is weak there is no heel rise at push off shorter step lengths

Waddling Gait 

Swinging forward the entire side of the body due to diffused weakness of many muscles

Fused Hip

Motion of the lumbar spine and pelvis can greatly compensate for hip motion - DECREASED lordosis and posterior tilt will allow the left to swing FORWARD - INCREASED lordosis and anterior pelvic tilt will swing the lef POSTERIORLY.

Knee Flexion Contracture

Excessive dorsiflexion during midstance

Knee Fusion

Lower leg will be at a fixed length

Vaulting Gait

Hip hiking of the involved side

Circumduction Gait

Leg begins at near the midline at push off and SWINGS OUT to the side during the swing phase

Abducted Gait

Leg reamins in ABDUCTED throughout the cycle

Ankle Fusion

AKA Triple Arthrodesis fusion of the subtalar joint (most difficulty walking on uneven ground)

Hemiplegic Gait

Varies depending on the severity, Spacticity = extension synergy in the involved lower extremity (hip in extension/ADDuction/Medial rotation knee in Extension and often unstable - ankle demonstrates foot drop (no reciprocal arm swing) steps tend to length on the involved side and shortened on the uninvolved side.

Axatic Gait

Lack of coordination leads to jerky uneven movements balance is POOR - wide base of support (staggard)

Parkinsons Gait

Diminished movements flexed lower extremity posture arms partially flexed and there is little or no reciprocal arm swing stride is diminished - SHUFFLING gait feet flat weight shifted onto toes - DIFFICULTY INTIATING movement - starts slow picks up speed and has DIFFICULTY STOPPING

Scissoring Gait

SPACTICITY in Hip ADDuctors - swing phase unsupported leg walking base is narrowed

Crouch Gait

Cerebral Palsy - Bilateral lower extremity involvement with spastic diplegia - EXCESSIVE flexion/ADDuction and medial rotation at the hips and flexion at the knees reciprocal arm swing and horizontal displacement are EXAGGERATED

Antalgic Gait

Pain in the Lower Extremity joints tends to shorten the stance phase arm swing shartens as the step length is shortened.

Concentric Contraction

Occurs when there is joint movement the muscle shortens and the attachment move toward each other.

Eccentric

Occurs when there is joint motion but the muscle appears to be lengthened.