Home / Summaries / Whittle's Gait Analysis / walking-energy-time

Normal gait

40 important questions on Normal gait

What is the gait cycle?

Time interval between two successive occurences of one of the repetitive events of walking.

What event marks the beginning of the gait cycle?

Initial contact

Name the seven events of the gait cycle.

Initial contact
Opposite toe-off
Heel rise
Opposite initial contact
Toe off
Feet adjacent
Tibia vertical

How many periods are there in the gait cycle, and in which phases do they occur?

There are seven periods in the gait cycle. Four periods occur in the stance phase (foot on ground), and three periods occur in the swing phase (foot through air).

What are the four periods of the stance phase?

Loading response
Mid-stance
Terminal stance
Pre-swing

What is the stride length?

Distance between two successive placements of the same foot. So two step-lengths

What are the three periods of the swing phase?

Initial swing
Mid-swing
Terminal swing

What is the walking base?

Stride with, side to side distance between the feet

What is the speed of walking?

Distance covered by the whole body in a given time.

Hoe bereken je speed uit cadence en stride length? en met cycle time?

Speed(m/s)=Stride length(m)x cadence(steps/min)/120
Speed(m/s)=stride length(m)/cycle time(s)

What percentage of the gait cycle does the stance phase approximately occupy? And the swinging phase?

The stance phase approximately occupies about 60% of the gait cycle. The swing phase approximately occupies about 40% of the gait cycle.

During which events do the periods of double support occur?

The periods of double support occur between the right initial contact and left toe-off events.

What are the differences between young children and adults?

Walking base is wider
Stride length and walking speed are lower and cycle time shorter(higher cadence)
Small children no heelstrike
Very little stance phase knee flexion
External rotation whole leg during swing phase
Absence reciprocal arm swinging.

What is the walking base or stride width?

The walking base or stride width refers to the side-to-side stance between the line of the two feet, usually measured at the midpoint of the back heel.

What is the function of decreasing stride length and widening walking base?

Easier to maintain balance

What are the three parts of energy cost in walking?

Muscles consuming energy for movement
Muscles consuming energy keeping posture and for bodily functions
Basal metabolism

How is speed of walking measured?

The speed of walking is measured in meters per second, representing the distance covered by the whole body in a given time.

In which ways can energy requirements of walking be expressed?

Energy used per time
Energy used per unit distance.

How do you calculate energy cost per time or distance?

Ew=2,23+1,26v^2-> Ew= watts/kg
Em=2,23/v+1,26v-> Em= joules/metre/kg

What is step length?

Step length is the amount by which the foot can be moved forward during the swing phase.

Which two types of energy transfer occur during walking?

Kinetic into potential
Transfer of energy between one limb segment and another.

How does a short step length on one side typically affect the other side?

A short step length on one side generally indicates problems with single support on the other side

What are the six determinants of gait?

1. Pelvic rotation
2. Pelvic obliquity
3. Knee flexion in stance phase
4. Ankle mechanism
5. foot mechanism
6.lateral displacement of body

Which two phases are in place for initiation?

1. Preparatory->start decoupling process->shifting centre of pressure
2. Stepping phase->swinging limb no longer in contact with the floor until initial contact

What is ankle angle?

Ankle angle is the angle between the tibia and an arbitrary line in the foot. It is conventionally defined as 0, with dorsiflexion considered positive and plantarflexion considered negative.

How can the hip angle be measured?

hip angle may be measured in two different ways: the angle between the vertical and the femur, and the angle between the pelvis and the femur.

In which planes do important movements occur during gait?

sagittal, frontal, and transverse

What occurs during the loading response period?

During the loading response period, the foot is lowered to the ground by plantar flexion of the ankle, and the ground reaction force increases rapidly in magnitude in an upward and backward direction.

When does mid-stance occur in the gait cycle?

Mid-stance occurs between opposite toe-off and heel rise in the gait cycle.

What event marks the end of the stance phase and the beginning of the swing phase?

Toe-off generally occurs at about 60% of the gait cycle and marks the end of the stance phase and the beginning of the swing phase.

What is the significance of "feet adjacent" in the gait cycle?

"Feet adjacent" represents the time when the swinging leg passes the stance phase leg, and the two feet are side by side, separating the initial swing from the mid-swing.

What marks the division between mid-swing and terminal swing?

The tibia of the swinging leg becoming vertical marks the division between mid-swing and terminal swing.

When does the gait cycle end?

The gait cycle ends at the next initial contact of the same foot

How do small children make initial contact while walking?

Small children make initial contact with a flat foot, without a heel strike.

How does the leg position change during the swing phase in small children?

During the swing phase, the whole leg of small children is externally rotated.

What is a notable difference in arm movement between small children and adults during walking?

Small children do not exhibit reciprocal arm swinging during gait.

When do the gait parameters of cycle time, stride length, and speed reach normal adult values in growth?

The gait parameters of cycle time, stride length, and speed reach normal adult values around the age of 15.

What are the main causes of gait disorders in old age?

The main causes of gait disorders in old age are classified as neurological, psychological, orthopedic, endocrinological, general, drugs, senile gait, and associated conditions.

What influences affect the gait of elderly people?

The gait of elderly people is subject to the effects of age itself and the effects of pathological conditions.

How does the gait of elderly people generally compare to that of younger adults? (excluding pathological conditions)

The gait of elderly people appears to be a "slowed down" version of the gait of younger adults, characterized by decreased stride length, variable but generally increased cycle time, and an increased walking base.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Whittle's Gait Analysis | 9780702051999 | David Levine, et al

View summary

A unique study and practice tool
Never study anything twice again
Get the grades you hope for
100% sure, 100% understanding

Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.