NORMAL HUMAN LOCOMOTION

a series of rhythmical, alternating movements of extremities & trunk

 forward movement of COG

STRIDE (GAIT CYCLE)

STANCE PHASE SWING PHASE

HEEL STRIKE FOOT FLAT MID STANCE PUSH OFF ACCELERATION MID SWING DECCELERATION

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
R DS R SS L DS L SS
 DOUBLE SUPPORT

 2 extremities are in contact with ground simultaneously

~ to the cadence
Cadence ↓  DS ↑  Swing Phase ↓
Running  DS -
 GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC
OF NORMAL GAIT

1. Vertical Displacement of CoG ( 2 inches : MS, DS)

2. Lateral Displacement of CoG (2 inches)
3. Width of the Walking Base (2-4 inches)
4. Horizontal Dip of the Pelvis (5o)
5. Knee Flexion on stance Phase (20o, after HS)
6. Cadence (70-130x/min, av: 90x/min  2.5 miles/h)
 DETERMINANTS OF GAIT
NORMAL GAIT :
Adaptations to diminish the energy expenditure of walking  Compass
Walk  CoG + 2 inches range
Stiff LE’s joint  energy expenditure ↑

6 NORMAL DETERMINANTS
1. Pelvic Rotation (D/S @ 4o)
2. Pelvic Tilt (5o)
3. Knee Flexion (Double Knee Lock 
40% of Stance)
4. Foot-Ankle Mechanisms (2 arc)
5. Lateral Displacement of the Pelvis
(+ 3 inches, TFA)
6. Knee-Ankle Mechanisms
 METHODS OF STUDYING
NORMAL HUMAN LOCOMOTION

Factors :
1. Gravity force (External Force)
 measured with :
1. Kinetic (magnitude & direction)
2. Kinematic (joint’s location in space)
2. Muscular force (Internal Force)
 measured active specific muscle with EMG
3. Inertial effects
4. The angular relationship between the segments of LE during the
different phases of the walking cycle

Cadence have an effect on the value of :

The joint angles
External force
Muscular activity
 GAIT ANALYSIS

SAGITTAL
PLANE

FRONTAL
PLANE
 OUTLINE OF LOCOMOTION ANALYSIS ON
SAGITTAL PLANE

KINEMATIC
STANCE PHASE SWING PHASE
HS FF MSt HO TO ACC MSw DECC

Flex 25o  Neutral  Full ext  Hyperext  Max hyperext + 20o Hyperext 10o  Flex  Neutral  flex until
(10-15o) MSw (25o)  constant

Full ext  Flex 20o  Flex 15o  Ext 178o  Full ext  Flex 40o  Flex 65o. Acc : Quadr, Decc : Hamst

Continuous activity of Tib

Neutral  plantflex  Tibial Dorsiflex 2-3o Dorsiflex 15o  plantarflex 20o Ant, Ext Dig Long & Ext Hall
(15o) rotation Long  help shorten the
extremity (neutral position)
 KINETIC
EXTERNAL FORCES INTERNAL FORCES
Flex moment 60 ft/lb G.Max. & Hams. resist the moment of force
WB ↑↑  flex moment 10 ft/lb Quadriceps (ecc.contr  isotonic)
HS R FRF is front of joint  behind Ext Dig Long. & Ext Hall Long. > Tib. Ant.
(ecc.contr)

R FRF is behind the knee  max flex moment 30

ft/lb Reverse reaction of Quadriceps
FF Max plantarflex moment 20 ft/lb  R FRF in front Dorsiflexor activity ↓
of joint  dorsiflex – tibial rotation

R FRF is behind  ext moment 30 ft/lb  ↑ until Er. Sp. resist trunk tendency of forward flex
DS  body shifted  140 ft/lb  drops to 0
MST R FRF forward  flex moment ↓
Dorsiflex 25 ft/lb  tibial rotation over the fixed Dorsiflexor ↓↓, Plantarflexor ↑↑ (ecc. contr) 
foot – dorsiflex direction dorsiflex

R FRF in front  ext moment 10 ft/lb

HO
Dorsiflex moment 80 ft/lb Burst of plantarflexor activity
Primary Hip flexor active 45-60% GC  replace
by Ad. Long. & Ad. Magn.
Flex moment max on DS V. Int & Rect. Fem. activity
TO Dorsiflex moment 0 Inactive plantarflexors