Tutorial- Posture and Gait Assessment

Postural Assessment

Class Exercise 1
Foot and knee posture

Identify STJ pronation and its effects on knee position (varus/ valgus, internal, external )
Identify STJ supination and its effects on knee position (varus/ valgus, internal, external )

Exercise 2
Postural Assessment Charts

On a fellow student.

1) Do they have a normal plumb line through the joint centres of the head, shoulders, hips, knees and
ankles
St George, Francine The
Muscle Book

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2). Observe the changes in posture when exaggerating the following postures;

Lordosis
Kyphosis
Scoliosis.

3). Identify the position of the following structures on a student on the following chart;

Head position
Shoulder obliquity
Pelvis position St George, Francine The
Spinal curvature Muscle Book
Knee position
Foot position

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 Gait Assessment

Exercise 1
Measuring stride length

One stride is essentially two steps or the distance between the first and second heel contact of the
same foot.

1) Measure the stride length of the right leg of your tutorial group members with normal
walking pace.

2) Measure the stride length of the right leg of your tutorial group members with a stiff right
knee.

3) How does your groups normal stride leg compare to normal values
Average stride length = 1.41metres
men 1.46 metres versus women 1.28 metres
4) List factors which can affect stride length

Student name Leg length (metres) Stride length (R) Stride length if you walk with a stiff (r) knee

Exercise 2
Measuring Cadence

Cadence is defined as the number of steps taken in a given time

On average men take approximately 111steps/minute and women 117 steps/min.

1) Measure the number of steps each of your team members take in one minute at a normal
walking pace.

2) How does this compare to normal values

3) What is the relationship between leg length, stride length and cadence

Student name Cadence

Steps taken in one minute

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 Exercise 3
Plantar pressure and force measurement

Demonstration
Use of a pedograph to determine high pressure areas and foot type
How does this compare to measures taken on the Emed?

Exercise 4
Identifying gait components

1) In your groups identify the following in their gait cycle

Contact period
o Heel contact to Forefoot load (double limb contact)
Midstance period
o Forefoot load to heel lift (single limb contact)
Propulsion period
o Heel lift to toe off

2) What happens to the subtalar and knee joint in each of these periods?

Root et al 1977

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 UniClinic Gait Assessment Form

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