GAIT ASSESSMENT
1. The types of gait assessment in use today can be classified under as
2. Kinematic and
3. Kinetic.
4. Kinematic gait assessment is used to describe movement patterns without regard for
the forces involved in producing the movement.
5. A kinetic gait assessment consists of a description of movement of the body as a whole
or body segments in relation to each other during gait.
Actions of Muscles of the LE
1. Erector spinae: extensors of the back
2. Gluteus maximus: extension of hip
3. Gluteus medius: adductor
4. Iliopsoas: hipflexion
5. Adductor magnus: adduction of the thigh
6. Qudriceps femoris: extension of knee
7. Hamstrings: flexion of knee
8. Gastrocnemius: plantarflexion of the foot
9. Tibialis ant, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus: dorsiflexion of the
foot
10.Tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus: planterflex and
invert
11.Peroneals: eversion of the foot
ABNORMAL GAIT
Three reasons why gait deviations can occur:
1. Pathology or injury in the specific joint.
2. They may occur as compensations for injury or pathology in other joints on the same or
ipsilateral side.
3. And finally, they may occur as compensations for injury or pathology on the opposite
or contralateral limb.
Antalgic (Painful) gait
1. Self-protective; result of injury to the pelvis, hip, knee, ankle or foot. ‡ The stance
phase on the affected leg is shorter than that on the unaffected leg, because the patient
attempts to remove weight from the affected leg as quickly as possible
Arthrogenic (Stiff Hip or Knee) Gait
1. Results from stiffness, laxity or deformity, and it may be painful or pain free.
Ataxic Gait
1. The patient has poor sensation or lacks muscle coordination.
2. There is a tendency toward poor balance and a broad base.
3. The gait of a person with cerebellar ataxia includes a lurch or stagger, and all
movements are exaggerated.
4. The feet of an individual with sensory ataxia slap the ground because they cannot be
felt
CONTRACTURE GAITS
1. Hip flexion contracture results in: - increased lumbar lordosis - extension of the trunk
combined with knee flexion to get the foot on the ground.
2. Knee flexion contracture: - patient demonstrates excessive ankle dorsiflexion from the
late swing phase to early stance phase on the uninvolved leg and early heel rise on the
involved side in terminal stance.
3. Plantarflexion contracture at ankle results in: - knee hyperextension, forward blending
of the trunk with hip flexion.
Equinus Gait (Toe Walking)
1. This childhood gait is seen with talipes equinovarus(club foot), CP and limb-length
discrepancy.
2. The weight-bearing phase on the affected limb is decreased, and a limp is present.
Gluteus Maximus Gait
1. Primary hip extensor, is weak.
2. Patient thrusts the thorax posteriorly at initial contact (heel strike) to maintain hip
extension of the stance leg.
3. The resulting gait involves a characteristic backward lurch of the trunk.
Gluteus Medius (Trendelenburg's) Gait
1. Hip abductor muscles together with the gluteus minimus, are weak.
2. Patient exhibits an excessive lateral list in which the thorax is thrust laterally to keep
the COG over the stance leg.
3. If there is a bilateral weakness of the gluteus medius muscles, the gait shows
accentuated side-to-side movement, resulting in a wobbling gait.
Hemiplegic Gait
1. The patient with hemiplegic gait swings the paraplegic leg outward and ahead in a
circle(circumduction) or pushes it ahead.
2. Sometimes referred to as a neurogenic or flaccid gait.
Parkinsonian Gait
1. Basal ganglia affected
2. Neck, trunk and knees are flexed.
3. The gait is characterized by shuffling.
Plantar Flexor Gait
1. If the plantarflexors are unable to perform their function, ankle and knee stability are
greatly affected.
2. Loss of the plantar flexors results in decrease or absence of push-off.
3. The stance phase is less, and there is a shorter step length on the unaffected side.
Psoatic Limp
1. Patient demostrates a difficulty in swingthrough, and the limp may be accompanied by
exaggerated trunk and pelvic movement.
2. The limp may be caused by weakness or reflex inhibitionof the psoas major muscle.
3. Classic manifestations of this limp: - lateral rotation, flexion and adduction of the hip.
Quadriceps Avoidance Gait
1. The patient compensates in the trunk and lower leg if the quads have been affected.
Scissors Gait
1. It is the result of spastic paralysis of the hip adductor muscles, which causes the knees
to be drawn together so that the legs can be swung forward only with great effort.
2. May be referred to as spastic gait.
Short Leg Gait
1. The patient may demonstrate lateral shift to the affected side if one leg is shorter than
the other, and the pelvis tilts down on the affected side.
2. May also be termed painless osteogenic gait.
Steppage or Drop Foot Gait
1. Patient has weak or paralyzed dorsiflexor muscles, resulting a drop foot.
2. At initial contact, the foot slaps on the ground because of loss of control of the
dorsiflexor muscles, their peripheral nerve supply, or the nerve roots supplying the
muscles.
