Gait

• Understanding normal gait

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
• Normal Gait =
– Series of rhythmical , alternating movements of
the trunk & limbs which result in the forward
progression of the center of gravity

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
• Gait Cycle =
– Single sequence of functions by one limb
– Begins when reference foot contacts the ground
– Ends with subsequent floor contact of the same foot

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
• Step Length =
– Distance between corresponding successive points of
heel contact of the opposite feet
– Rt step length = Lt step length (in normal gait)
• Stride Length =
– Distance between successive points of heel contact of
the same foot
– Double the step length (in normal gait)

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
• Cadence =
– Number of steps per unit time
– Normal: 100 – 115 steps/min
– Cultural/social variations

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
• Phases:
(1) Stance Phase: (2) Swing Phase:
reference limb reference limb
in contact not in contact
with the floor with the floor

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
• Support:
(1) Single Support: only one foot in contact with the floor
(2) Double Support: both feet in contact with floor

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
Stance phase:
1. Heel contact: ‘Initial contact’
2. Foot-flat: ‘Loading response’, initial contact of forefoot w. ground
3. Midstance: greater trochanter in alignment w. vertical bisector of
foot
4. Heel-off: ‘Terminal stance’
5. Toe-off: ‘Pre-swing’

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
. Swing phase:
1. Acceleration: ‘Initial swing’
2. Midswing: swinging limb overtakes the limb in stance
3. Deceleration: ‘Terminal swing

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 Determinants of Gait

• Six optimizations used to minimize excursion

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 (1) Pelvic rotation:
 Forward rotation of the pelvis in the horizontal plane approx. 8o on
the swing-phase side
 Reduces the angle of hip flexion & extension
 Enables a slightly longer step-length w/o further lowering of CG

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 (2) Pelvic tilt:
 5o dip of the swinging side (i.e. hip adduction)
 In standing, this dip is a positive Trendelenberg sign
 Reduces the height of the apex of the curve of CG

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 (3) Knee flexion in stance phase:
 Approx. 20o dip
 Shortens the leg in the middle of stance phase
 Reduces the height of the apex of the curve of CG

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 (4) Ankle mechanism:
 Lengthens the leg at heel contact
 Smoothens the curve of CG
 Reduces the lowering of CG

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 (5) Foot mechanism:
 Lengthens the leg at toe-off as ankle moves from dorsiflexion
to plantarflexion
 Smoothens the curve of CG
 Reduces the lowering of CG

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 (6) Lateral displacement of body:
 The normally narrow width of the walking base minimizes the
lateral displacement of CG
 Reduced muscular energy consumption due to reduced lateral
acceleration & deceleration

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
 RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy
• THANK YOU

RADHIKA. C.M
Faculty of Physiotherapy