Stair Gait

Original Editor - Rishika Babburu

Top Contributors - Rishika Babburu, Lucinda hampton and Kim Jackson  

Introduction

Stair Gait

A fundamental body movement is required to ascend and descend stairs. It is important for everyday activities such as shopping, taking public transportation, or going about a multistory building or apartment. The variation between the two modes of locomotion(level-ground locomotion and stair locomotion) may be significant for a patient population.

If a patient has adequate muscle strength and joint ROM for level-ground walking, it does not ensure that the patient will be able to walk up and down stairs.

Biomechanics

Locomotion in the stair gait involves both swing and stance phases in which forward progression of the body is brought about by alternating movements of the lower extremities. The lower extremities must balance and carry along HAT(Head, arms and trunk), similar to level ground gait.The knee extensor moment in both stair ascent and descent was nearly three times greater than that of level ground walking. The ankle moments are almost similar in both gaits. The knee has generative role in stair ascent( absorptive in level walking). Powers are mostly generative in stair ascent and absorptive in descent for all joints.

The stair gait cycle is divided into:

A.Stance phase and

B.Swing phase.

• Stance phase is subdivided into

1. Weight Acceptance
2. Pull up
3. Forward Continuance

• Swing Phase is subdivided into

1. Foot Clearance
2. Foot Placement

Vast amount of positive work is involved in stair ascent that is accomplished mainly through concentric action of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, soleus, and medial gastrocnemius muscles.

Sagittal Plane Analysis of Stair Ascent

Stance Phase–Weight Acceptance (0%–14% of Stance Phase) Through Pull-Up (14%–32% of Stance Phase)

Hip Joint - Extension: 60° - 30° of flexion - Gluteus Maximus, Semitendinosus, Gluteus Medius

Knee Joint - Extension: 80°–35° of flexion - Vastus lateralis, Rectus femoris

Ankle Joint - Dorsiflexion: 20°–25° of dorsiflexion, Plantarflexion: 25°–15° of dorsiflexion - Tibialis anterior , Soleus, Gastrocnemius

Stance Phase–Pull-Up (End of Pull-Up) Through Forward Continuance (32%–64% of the Stance Phase of Gait Cycle)

Hip Joint - Extension: 30°–5° flexion,Flexion: 5° to 10°–20° of flexion - Gluteus maximus ,Gluteus medius,Semitendinosus.

Knee Joint - Extension: 35°–10° of flexion,Flexion: 5° to 10°–20° of flexion - Vastus lateralis, Rectus femoris.

Ankle Joint - Plantarflexion: 15° of dorsiflexion to 15°–10° of plantarflexion - Soleus,Gastrocnemius,Tibialis anterior

Swing Phase (64%–100% of Gait Cycle)—Foot Clearance Through Foot Placement

Hip Joint - Flexion: 10°–20° to 40°–60° of flexion, Extension: 40°–60° of flexion to 50° of flexion - Gluteus medius

Knee Joint - Flexion: 10° of flexion to 90°–100° of flexion, Extension: 90°–100° of flexion to 85° of flexion - Vastus lateralis, Semitendinosus, Rectus femoris

Ankle Joint - Dorsiflexion: 10° of plantarflexion to 20° of dorsiflexion - Tibialis anterior.

• Descending stairs involves energy absorption and is achieved through eccentric activity of the same muscles.
• The support moments during stair ascent, stair descent, and level-ground walking show near to same patterns but the magnitude of the moments is greater in stair gait.
• Hence, more muscle strength is required during stair gait.

According to a study, it is determined, the predictors of foot clearance and amount of overhang showing that physical activity was a common predictor for both younger and older age groups. In addition, for the older group, medications and fear of falling were found to predict stair performance for most goings, while sway during single-legged standing was the most common predictor for the younger group. Older participants adapted to smaller goings by using the handrails and reducing gait velocity. The predictors of performance suggest that motor and fall risk assessment is complex and multifactorial. The results shown were consistent with the recommendation that larger going and pausing before negotiating stairs may improve stair safety, especially for older users.

The below less than 3 minute video is titled: Biomechanical analysis of height and knee flexion in walking stairs