The Gait Cycle: Phases: o Development: initiates movement up to walking speed o Rhythmic: Cyclic, repetitive motions (most pathology

y occurs here). o Decay: decelerate, preparing to stop 1 Gait cycle: Floor contact of heel to floor contact of the SAME heel. o Heel strike to heel strike, avg. about 1 second. Swing Phase: Foot off WB, from TOE OFF TO HEEL STRIKE. 38-42% of the cycle, about 0.4 seconds Foot clearance from HIP and KNEE flexion NO GRF, less injuries occur in this phase than in stance. Key Events: o Foot transported from one step to the next o Internal rotation during swing o Foot open kinetic chain pronates to clear the ground (dorsiflexion, abduction, eversion) o Ankle joint dorsiflexes, anterior tibials Largest number of muscles are active during swing and they act with greatest force because they are responsible for initiating reverse motion of the limb at toe off and arresting it at heel strike. Stance Phase: Foot ON weight bearing, from HEEL STRIKE TO TOE OFF 58-62% of the cycle, about 0.6 seconds Initiated by heel contact (heel strike), ends with toe off 4 Sub-phases of stance: Contact phase: HEEL CONTACT of support limb to TOE OFF opposite limb. o 10% of gait cycle, 18% of stance phase o GRF approx. 110-125% of body weight, first vertical GRF peak. o Posterior shear o Opposite leg lifts and starts external rotation (in swing) o STJ pronation (floppy to shock absorb and adapt to terrain) and internal rotation of the leg, towads the end of contact, moves into supination in order to enter into midstance (rigid). o Loading of metatarals (lateral first, then medial) - contact phase ends with foot flat. Midstance Phase: TOE OFF opposite limb to HEEL LIFT of the support limb o 20% of gait cycle, 30% of stance phase. o Knee EXTENSION causes rise in the center of gravity (minimal) o Decelerating body weight (@beginning), GRF falls to 75% BW o Initial single support period, therefore stability is required o STJ is supinating (going from floppy to absorb shock to rigid to handle single support of body weight). o Converts from mobile adaptor (pronated STJ) to rigid lever (supinated STJ)

Continued external leg rotation and contracting calf muscles initiate supination (Tibialis Posterior and Triceps surae, with help from leg flexors) Active Propulsion: HEEL LIFT support limb to HEEL CONTACT opposite limb o 20% of gait cycle, 30% of stance phase o Continuation of single limb support o Greatest vertical and horizontal forces (because the foot we care about is pushing, aka downward acceleration): 110-125 +10%!! o Second vertical GRF peak o STJ supination continues to support weight- skeletal rigidity. o Shift of weight lateral to medial o Opposite foot strikes the ground midway (corresponds with the transition from active to passive propulsion) o MPJs become centers of rotation for the foot (forefoot rocker) o Center of gravity is falling o Posterior shear (foot trying to move backwards as it pushes off) o External rotation of the support limb Passive propulsion: HEEL CONTACT opposite limb to TOE OFF support limb o 10% of gait cycle, 20% of stance phase o Second period of double support, passive event (momentum carries limb forward, rapid drop in body weight). o End of PP, vertical load = zero (toes are off the ground) o Maximum external rotation and STJ supination (the most rigid) o Abducting rearfoot and Midtarsal oblique joint axis supination

Hip (note hip is FLEXing during swing)

Knee

Ankle STJ MTJ

Contact Midstance Flexed, Extending, Extending Flexed Internal rotation External rotation Flexion Extension Internal rotation External rotation Plantarflexion Dorsiflexion Pronation Supination LA: Supination LA: Pronation OA: Pronation OA: Pronation

Propulsion Flexed, Extending External rotation

Extension. Later flexion External rotation Plantarflexion Supination LA: Pronation OA: Supination

Double and Single Support Phases: Double Support: BOTH feet in contact with the ground; occurs twice during the gait cycle: one is at heel strike (@ contact), and one is at toe off (propulsion). Initial DS: 1-12% of the cycle. o Contact phase: Support limb HEEL STRIKE, opposite limb TOE OFF o Period of reception or weight acceptance o Braking period; Deceleration of the body (from the end of swing of the support limb) Terminal DS: 50-62% of cycle o P. Propulsion: Support limb TOE OFF, opposite limb HEEL STRIKE o Aka thrusting, pre-swing, or weight release double support o Weight is transferred to the other limb before we toe off (stabilize before you unload). Each represents 12% of cycle, therefore about 25% of cycle spent in DS. Single Limb Support- corresponds to midstance and active propulsion TOE OFF of the opposite limb to HEEL CONTACT of the opposite limb Same side is on the ground alone with the opposite limb in swing. SUPINATED ST JOINT- must be rigid in order to support the body alone. FOOT ROCKERS: Heel rocker: HEEL CONTACT TO FOOT FLAT Ankle Rocker: FOOT FLAT TO HEEL LIFT Forefoot rocker: HEEL OFF TO TOE OFF Definitions: Stride Length: distance between 2 consecutive contacts of the same foot. o Measured from the heel contact of one limb to the next heel contact of the SAME limb, o The avg. stride is 4.5 feet, men have a 14% longer stride than women Step Length: the distance from heel contact of one limb to heel contact of the opposite limb. o Each stride length will consist of two steps, usually of equal length. (4.5/2= 2.25 feet) Cadence: steps per minute o Most individuals select a natural or free cadence o Average = 101-122 steps per minute o Female to male, 117:111 o Slows with age. o The greater the cadence the less time in double support!

Base of Gait: Horizontal distance from one heel strike to the next heel strike, measured from the center of the heel. Average is 3.5 inches. o Increase cadence, decrease the base of gait! Angle of gait: angle the long axis of the foot makes with the line of progression (sagittal plane). o (Where is the toe pointing in relation to the line of progression). nd st o Long axis of the foot is center of heel through 2 metatarsal (1 interspace). o Average is 7 for each limb for a total of 12-15 external 6 determinants of Gait: o Pelvic rotation o Pelvic list o Knee flexion in stance o Ankle joint motion o Motion within the foot o Lateral displacement of body weight Standing Position: NO GAIT ACTION o Gravity is active o Resistance to gravity is performed mainly by hip and knee ligaments which passively maintain joint function (through locking mechanism, no need to strain muscle) o Some muscle action is occurring to help maintain balance and joint position against gravity (esp. at the knee and ankle) o NO MOMENTUM. The body is not going anywhere (you need motion for momentum).