Irregular Gait
Gait is simply the way in which a person walks. In a perfect gait cycle, the pushing off and landing motions of the heel and toe are in balance, contributing to an even stride. Many people, however, unconsciously favor the heel or toe when they walk, contributing to an uneven and uncomfortable gait cycle. Plantar flexion, favoring the toe, occurs when the foot is angled down at the ankle from heel to toes (at its most extreme, walking on tiptoe). This causes the knee to hyperextend (literally straighten too far), putting extreme pressure on the joint itself as well as its individual anatomical parts. The tendons, ligaments, and joint capsule are stretched so that they move out of place, resulting in a sprain or strain. Dorsiflexion, favoring the heel, occurs when the foot is angled up from the ankle (at its most extreme, walking on the heels alone) so that the person falls forward, straining the quadriceps (thigh) muscles. Excess dorsiflexion keeps the quadriceps contracted in order to keep the individual from falling over and inhibits normal straightening of the knee. Both of these gait deviations are commonly seen in people who have had a stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury and in children with cerebral palsy
Gait is simply the way in which a person walks. In a perfect gait cycle, the pushing off and landing motions of the heel and toe are in balance, contributing to an even stride. Many people, however, unconsciously favor the heel or toe when they walk, contributing to an uneven and uncomfortable gait cycle. Plantar flexion, favoring the toe, occurs when the foot is angled down at the ankle from heel to toes (at its most extreme, walking on tiptoe). This causes the knee to hyperextend (literally straighten too far), putting extreme pressure on the joint itself as well as its individual anatomical parts. The tendons, ligaments, and joint capsule are stretched so that they move out of place, resulting in a sprain or strain. Dorsiflexion, favoring the heel, occurs when the foot is angled up from the ankle (at its most extreme, walking on the heels alone) so that the person falls forward, straining the quadriceps (thigh) muscles. Excess dorsiflexion keeps the quadriceps contracted in order to keep the individual from falling over and inhibits normal straightening of the knee. Both of these gait deviations are commonly seen in people who have had a stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury and in children with cerebral palsy
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