Joint Range of Motion During Gait

Original Editor - User Name

Top Contributors - Rachel Celentano, Wanda van Niekerk and Jess Bell  

This article or area is currently under construction and may only be partially complete. Please come back soon to see the finished work! (21/06/2022)

Introduction

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines gait as “a manner of walking or moving on foot.” It involves the interaction between the nervous, musculoskeletal, and cardiorespiratory systems and is heavily impacted by human age, personality, mood, and sociocultural factors. Normal gait function is determined by the optimal operation of the following: “locomotor function (for initiating and sustaining rhythmic gait), balance, postural reflexes, sensory function and sensorimotor integration, motor control, the musculoskeletal apparatus and cardiopulmonary functions.”

Phases of Gait

There are 8 phases of gait which are listed as follows:

1. Initial Contact
2. Loading Response
3. Midstance
4. Terminal Stance
5. Pre swing
6. Initial Swing
7. Mid Swing
8. Late Swing

The video below shares a 90-second description of the basics of the gait cycle:

Resources

• bulleted list
• x

or

1. numbered list
2. x