GAIT CYCLE

3D Kinematics in Gait Cycle

3D Kinematics in Gait Cycle

Introduction

Gait analysis is a key scientific instrument for designing the outline of the locomotion. It can be helpful in assessment of the problems and their treatment. In gait analysis human body is supposed to be a rigid body (Ebrahim, A. n.d.). This supposition is helpful for the understanding the three dimensional kinematics of the lower extremity during a Gait cycle i.e. walking.

Discussion

Gait is the medical terminology used for the human locomotion. While Gait cycle is the regular but alternative movements of the extremities which result in the forward movement of the body. Gait cycle is the time period required between the first placements of the supporting heel on the ground to the second placement of the same heel to the ground (Ebrahim, A. n.d.). There are two phases of the gait cycle. The first is stance and the second is swing.

Stance phase is the phase in which the foot is touching the ground. It is about the 60% of the total gait cycle (Ayyappa, E. 1997). Stance phase begins with the touch of the supporting heel to the floor and end to the toe off. Stance phase of walking has five sub phases. Five phases are:

Initial Contact

Loading Response

Mid-Stance

Terminal Stance

Pre-Swing

Initial Contact

Initial contact is the first sub phase of the stance phase that starts when the heel of the primary lower limb touches the ground (Ebrahim, A. n.d.). It is also known as heel strike. Initial contact phase ends when the foot totally falls flat on the ground.

Loading Response

About 10 per cent of the gait cycle is occupied by its second sub phase- loading response. Loading response starts with the stage of first double-limb support and ends when the ipsilateral foot fully comes in contact with the floor and the contralateral toe is off the floor (Ebrahim, A).

Mid-stance

Mid-stance the third sub phase of the gait cycle begins with the contralateral toe leaving the floor and continues until the centre of gravity is over the forefoot. This ends with forcing the heel up and moving body weight forward.

Terminal Stance

Terminal stance is the stage of the second half of the single-limb support. Terminal stance starts with the ankle raised and come to ends with the contralateral foot touching the floor (Ebrahim, A. n.d.). Body weights move forward to the fore foot during the terminal stance.

Pre Swing

Pre swing is the last sub phase of the gait cycle stance phase. It starts with the touch of the contralateral limb and ends at the toe off of the ipsilateral limb.

Three-Dimensional Kinematics of Foot, Knee and Hip Joint during Gait Cycle

There are three main joints in the lower extremity that should be considered in the Gait cycle.

Hip Joint

Knee Joint

Foot Joint (Ankle + Toe)

Hip Joint

In heel strike or initial contact the hip joint of the leading limb flexed approximately up to 30o-35o. This flexion movement of hip joint extends the limb for the contact of heel to the ground and provides help for correct positioning of the ...