Stance Phase |
Term | Definition | Involved Muscles & Type of Contraction | Other Key Points or Observations |
Initial Contact (stance phase begins) | When heel strikes the ground | Hip: Flexed 30º on contact - Extensors begin eccentric contraction to prevent further hip flexion
Knee: Flexed 5º on contact - Extensors contact eccentrically to accept weight/absorb shock
Ankle: Neutral position - Dorsiflexors isometrically hold foot in dorsiflexed position
| Pelvis: ---Rotates forward on ipsilateral side ---Rotates backward to Contralateral side
Body is behind stance leg |
Loading Response | Begins at initial contact body weight is transferred to leg and entire foot makes contact with the ground.
Ends when opposite foot leaves the ground | Hip: Extensors control external flexion torque eccentrically
Knee: Remains partially flexed, extensors eccentrically absorbing weight/shock
Ankle: Dorsiflexors eccentrically lower the foot to the ground | Body starts to move forward over stance leg |
Mid-stance | Begins when opposite foot leaves the ground
Ends when body is directly over stance limb | Hip: Extensors are primarily silent as the body’s momentum moves the hip into extension
Knee: Extensors become silent as body shifts over the foot and GRF’s are directed through the joint axis
Ankle: Plantarflexors control dorsiflexion eccentrically | Body is at highest point in gait cycle
Pelvis is in neutral position |
Terminal Stance | Begins as the heel of the stance leg rises
Ends with initial contact of the opposite foot | Hip: Extensors are silent as momentum and GRF’s continue further hip extension
Knee: Extensors are silent as momentum and GRF’s maintain the knee in extension
Ankle: From a dorsiflexed position, the plantarflexors begin to contract concentrically | Pelvis: ---Rotates backward on ipsilateral side ---Rotates upward to Contralateral side
Body has moved in front of the stance leg |
Pre-swing (stance phase ends) | Begins with initial contact and weight shifts to the other foot
Ends just before toes of stance leg leave the ground | Hip: Flexors contract concentrically to flex hip and bring thigh forward (note: two hip flexors – gracilis and sartorius - contract to flex the knee)
Knee: Flexors are silent allowing hip flexors to do the work
Ankle: concentrically plantarflexes to raise the heel off (push off) and reaches full plantarflexion for toe off (propulsion) | Advancement of leg begins |
Swing Phase |
Term | Definition | Involved Muscles & Type of Contraction | Other Key Points or Observations |
Initial Swing (Swing phase begins) | Begins when the toes leave the ground
Ends when the swing foot is opposite the stance or weight bearing foot, and the knee is in maximum flexion | Hip: Continues flexing (concentric contraction) to bring the leg forward
Knee: Continues flexing “following along for the ride” from hip flexion
Ankle: Begins to dorsiflex (concentric contraction) | Pelvis: ---Begins to rotate forward on ipsilateral side
Body is behind stance leg |
Midswing | Begins when the swing foot is opposite the stance or weight bearing foot
Ends when the swing leg is moved in front of the body and the tibia is in a vertical position | Hip: Is at maximum flexion (concentric contraction) but fades in force as momentum carries the leg forward
Knee: Is at maximum flexion (to clear the ground) and begins to extend
Ankle: Is dorsiflexed to neutral position and holding the position isometrically | Pelvis is in neutral position
Leg is passing under and moving in front of body |
Terminal Swing | Begins when the tibia is in a vertical position
Ends just prior to initial contact | Hip: Is in flexed position as eccentric contraction of hip extensors begins to decelerate forward flexion
Knee: Is extending and the hamstrings begin to contract eccentrically to slow down the forward movement of the leg and prepare for initial contact
Ankle: Is being held in dorsiflexion isometrically | Pelvis ---Is rotated forward on ipsilateral side
Leg advancement ends out in front of body |
Muscle Weakness/Paralysis “or” ROM Restriction | Gait Pattern: Causative or Compensatory |
Gluteus Maximus Weakness Gait - Unilateral (Gluteus Maximus Lurch gait)
- Bilateral (Pregnant Woman gait)
Note: person can’t risk going into hip flexion without posterior extensor muscles | - Unilateral: quick trunk extension at initial contact (heel strike) on the involved side to place the COM over the hip joint (compensatory).
- Bilateral: trunk is continually shifted posteriorly and hips tend to externally rotate for a broader base of support (compensatory).
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Gluteus Medius Weakness Gait (Trendelenburg gait) - Causative: contralateral pelvis drop
- Compensatory: ipsilateral trunk shift
| - Causative: contralateral pelvis drops upon weight bearing of the involved side.
- Compensatory: trunk shifts to the ipsilateral side to place the COM over the hip joint.
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Hip Flexor Weakness Gait (Circumduction gait) - Abducts or swings involved leg outward in a circular motion
| - Compensatory: ipsilateral or involved leg is abducted and the momentum of the walking motion swings the leg forward in a circumduction movement. Contralateral trunk lateral flexion aides in the hip abduction movement.
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Quadriceps Weakness Gait (Genu Recurvatum gait) - Forward leaning with extended knee
| - Compensatory: forward lean of the trunk over the involved leg that has been forced into hyperextension (recurvatum). Person may press downward/inward on the involved leg to help force the hyperextension.
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Dorsiflexor Weakness Gait (Slap Foot gait, Drop Foot with Equinus gait) - If no dorsiflexion the foot is in a dropped position (Drop Foot) = Steppage gait
- If can perform weak dorsiflexion = Slap Foot gait
| - Compensatory (Equinus Gait): person will perform high hip flexion to clear the dropped foot from scraping the ground, and then will touch down with the toes, similar to the gait of a horse.
- Compensatory (Slap Foot gait): during loading response, the weak dorsiflexors can’t effectively lower or decelerate the foot to the ground so the foot slaps the surface.
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Gastroc/Soleus Weakness Gait (Sore Foot gait) - Can’t plantarflex to perform preswing or push off.
| - Causative: no plantarflexion at terminal stance or push-off resulting in a shortened step length on the unaffected side.
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