Introduction to

Observational Gait
 Biomechanics : Gait
Stance Phase Gait 60% of cycle
Initial contact
Loading response
Midstance
Terminal Stance
Preswing
Swing Phase Gait 40% of Cycle
Early swing
Mid-Swing
Terminal Swing
Gait In Lower Extremity

Grouped by Phase
Initial Contact
 Initial Contact

Ankle jt. is in neutral

STJ is slightly
supinated
Anterior Tibialis and
EDL are on
eccentrically
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Initial Contact
The knee is positioned in
neutral
The quadriceps contract
to prepare for loading
response
The hamstrings contract
to counteract a brief
extension torque.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Initial contact
Hip stays in the 25
degrees of flexion
obtained in terminal
swing.
Hamstrings contract in
reaction to hip flexion
torque.
Loading Response
 Loading Response
Ankle moves rapidly into
10 degrees PF
Pretibial mm action
Tibia is pulled anterior
Knee flexes
STJ-Calcaneus everts 4-6
degrees (closed chain
pronation)
?mm controls this
Midtarsals?
 Loading Response

Closed Chain Pronation: Loose packed

position at STJ and in midtarsal region-
allows for shock absorption
Calcaneal eversion
Talus horizontally adducts
Tibia Internally Rotates
Knee Flexes
Femur internally rotates
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Loading Response
The knee flexes to 15
degrees
Quadriceps contract
eccentrically.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Loading Response
Hip remains in 25
degrees of flexion.
Glut max, hamstrings,
and adductors contract
Midstance
 Midstance

Ankle DFs to 5-10

degrees
Gastroc & Soleus
working eccentrically
Knee extends near
neutral (Gastroc
stabilizes the knee)
 Knee Biomechanics:Gait

Midstance
The knee extends near
neutral.
Quadriceps are on
briefly, then the knee is
stabilized by the
gastrocnemius.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Midstance
Hip extends to neutral.
No muscle activity in the
sagittal plane.
The pelvis is stabilized in
the frontal plane by the
hip abductor group.
Terminal Stance
 Terminal Stance
Ankle DFs to 10
degrees
1st MTP extends to 30
Calf mms still on
STJ-supinating
Midtarsals?
1st Ray control
Knee in full extension
 Terminal Stance

Closed chain supination: subtalar joint and

midtarsals go into a closed pack position.
Makes a rigid lever for push off.
Calcaneal inversion
Talar horizontal abduction
Tibial external rotation
Knee extension
Femur external rotation
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Terminal Stance
The knee extends to
neutral.
No muslces are active at
the knee.
Knee still stabilized by
the gastrocs.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Terminal Stance
Hip extends 20 degrees.
TFL fires to restrain
hyperextension of the
hip
PreSwing
 PreSwing

Knee rapidly flexing

1st MTP 30-70 DF
Ankle to 20 degrees
PF
Lift off!
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

PreSwing
The knee rapidly flexes
to 40 degrees.
The motion occurs
without hip flexor
activity.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

PreSwing
Thigh falls forward. This
motion is aided by
adductor longus.
Initial Swing
 Initial Swing

Ankle is dorsiflexing:
Concentric contraction
of Anterior tibialis, EHL,
EDL.
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Initial Swing
The knee continues
flexing to 60 degrees.
Biceps femoris,
sartorius, and gracilis
are active.
Foot clears the floor and
the thigh advances.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Initial Swing
15 degrees of hip flexion
is achieved,
Iliacus, gracilis,
sartorius, and adductor
longus are active
concentrically.
MidSwing
 Midswing

Ankle is in neutral
position, dorsiflexors
are still on
(isometrically or
eccentrically at this
point).
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

MidSwing
The knee rapidly
extends to 25 degrees.
Knee extension motion
is created by momentum
There is some firng of
the biceps femoris to
control the rate of
extension.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

MidSwing:
25 degrees of hip flexion
is achieved.
The iliacus, gracilis, and
sartorius, stop firing in
late midswing.
Terminal Swing
 Terminal Swing

Ankle is still in
neutral
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Terminal Swing
The knee extends to
neutral
The quadriceps contract
to ensure full extension.
The hamstrings are
active to decelerate the
leg.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Terminal Swing
Hip stays in 25 degrees
flexion
Hamstrings decelerate
the limb
Gait In Lower Extremity

Grouped by Joint
 Initial Contact

Ankle jt. is in neutral

STJ is slightly
supinated
Anterior Tibialis and
EDL are on
eccentrically
 Loading Response
Ankle moves rapidly into
10 degrees PF
Pretibial mm action
Tibia is pulled anterior
Knee flexes
STJ-Calcaneus everts 4-6
degrees (closed chain
pronation)
?mm controls this
Midtarsals?
 Loading Response

Closed Chain Pronation: Loose packed

position at STJ and in midtarsal region-
allows for shock absorption
Calcaneal eversion
Talus horizontally adducts
Tibia Internally Rotates
Knee Flexes
Femur internally rotates
 Midstance

Ankle DFs to 5-10

degrees
Gastroc & Soleus
working eccentrically
Knee extends near
neutral (Gastroc
stabilizes the knee)
 Terminal Stance
Ankle DFs to 10
degrees
1st MTP extends to 30
Calf mms still on
STJ-supinating
Midtarsals?
1st Ray control
Knee in full extension
 Terminal Stance

Closed chain supination: subtalar joint and

midtarsals go into a closed pack position.
Makes a rigid lever for push off.
Calcaneal inversion
Talar horizontal abduction
Tibial external rotation
Knee extension
Femur external rotation
 PreSwing

Knee rapidly flexing

1st MTP 30-70 DF
Ankle to 20 degrees
PF
Lift off!
 Initial Swing

Ankle is dorsiflexing:
Concentric contraction
of Anterior tibialis, EHL,
EDL.
 Midswing

Ankle is in neutral
position, dorsiflexors
are still on
(isometrically or
eccentrically at this
point).
 Terminal Swing

Ankle is still in
neutral
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Initial Contact
The knee is positioned in
neutral
The quadriceps contract
to prepare for loading
response
The hamstrings contract
to counteract a brief
extension torque.
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Loading Response
The knee flexes to 15
degrees
Quadriceps contract
eccentrically.
 Knee Biomechanics:Gait

Midstance
The knee extends near
neutral.
Quadriceps are on
briefly, then the knee is
stabilized by the
gastrocnemius.
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Terminal Stance
The knee extends to
neutral.
No muslces are active at
the knee.
Knee still stabilized by
the gastrocs.
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

PreSwing
The knee rapidly flexes
to 40 degrees.
The motion occurs
without hip flexor
activity.
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Initial Swing
The knee continues
flexing to 60 degrees.
Biceps femoris,
sartorius, and gracilis
are active.
Foot clears the floor and
the thigh advances.
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

MidSwing
The knee rapidly
extends to 25 degrees.
Knee extension motion
is created by momentum
There is some firng of
the biceps femoris to
control the rate of
extension.
 Knee Biomechanics: Gait

Terminal Swing
The knee extends to
neutral
The quadriceps contract
to ensure full extension.
The hamstrings are
active to decelerate the
leg.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Initial contact
Hip stays in the 25
degrees of flexion
obtained in terminal
swing.
Hamstrings contract in
reaction to hip flexion
torque.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Loading Response
Hip remains in 25
degrees of flexion.
Glut max, hamstrings,
and adductors contract
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Midstance
Hip extends to neutral.
No muscle activity in the
sagittal plane.
The pelvis is stabilized in
the frontal plane by the
hip abductor group.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Terminal Stance
Hip extends 20 degrees.
TFL fires to restrain
hyperextension of the
hip
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

PreSwing
Thigh falls forward. This
motion is aided by
adductor longus.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Initial Swing
15 degrees of hip flexion
is achieved,
Iliacus, gracilis,
sartorius, and adductor
longus are active
concentrically.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

MidSwing:
25 degrees of hip flexion
is achieved.
The iliacus, gracilis, and
sartorius, stop firing in
late midswing.
 Hip Biomechanics: Gait

Terminal Swing
Hip stays in 25 degrees
flexion
Hamstrings decelerate
the limb