BIOMECHANICS:

GAIT ANALYSIS
TAKEN FROM
SHIMAA ESSA, PHYSICAL THERAPIST AT NASR CITY HEALTH INSURANCE
HOSPITAL
ZAHRINA MARDINA S.T, M.SC., INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY LIAISON
INDONESIA

ALFIAN PRAMUDITA PUTRA, S.T., M.SC

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA
GAIT ANALYSIS

• The quantitative study of human locomotion

TASKS IN GAIT ANALYSIS
 WHY IS GAIT ANALYSIS STUDIED?
• Scientists seek a better understanding of how typically developing
ambulators use muscle contractions about articulating joints to accomplish
functional tasks, such as level walking and stair climbing.
• Physicians seek a better understanding of a typical movement patterns to
assist in treatment decision making such as surgery or orthotic prescription.
• In sport biomechanics, athletes and coach study gait analysis to improve
performance and injury mechanism
 EXAMPLE OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGIES
INCLUDES GAIT CYCLE IN THE TREATMENT

• Amputation • Muscular dystrophy

• Cerebral palsy
• Degenerative joint disease
• Joint pain
• Joint replacement
• Poliomyelitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Myelodysplasia
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
TYPE OF MOVEMENT
TYPES OF MOVEMENTS (CONT’D)
 THESE FORCES PRODUCED VIA:
COMPRESSION OF TWO ARTICULAR
SURFACES
JOINT CONTACT FORCES
 GAIT
➢Utilizes minimal energy to move. Walking is a
highly-coordinated process involving
• Central Nervous System
• Brain
• Spinal cord
• Peripheral nerves
• Musculoskeletal System
• Muscles
• Bones & Joints
GAIT CYCLE
PHASES OF GAIT CYCLE
 DETERMINATION OF GAIT
• What do we observe?
• Pelvic Rotation
• Pelvic Obliquity
• Knee flexion in stance phase
• Ankle mechanism
• Foot mechanism
• Lateral displacement of body
 DETERMINATION OF GAIT
• Pelvic Rotation and Pelvic Obliquity
 DETERMINANTS OF GAIT
Knee Flexion in
Stance Phase
 ABNORMAL GAIT PATTERNS

• Anterior trunk bending

• Posterior trunk bending
• Lateral trunk bending
• Increased lumbar lordosis
• Circumduction
• Steppage
ABNORMAL GAIT PATTERNS
Anterior trunk bending
ABNORMAL GAIT PATTERNS
Posterior trunk bending
ABNORMAL GAIT PATTERNS
Increased lumbar lordosis
INCREASED LUMBAR LORDOSIS

Circumduction
ABNORMAL GAIT PATTERNS

Steppage
 SENSORS USED IN GAIT ANALYSIS
• Accelerometer : measure acceleration along its sensitive axis
• Gyroscope : angular velocity sensor
• Magnetoresistive sensor : estimate changes in the orientation of a body
• Flexible goniometer : measure the relative rotation between two human body
segments
• Electromagnetic Tracking System
• Sensing Fabric
• Force Sensor
• Sensor for electromyography
 METHODS OF GAIT ANALYSIS

• Few methods used

• Visual gait analysis
• Timing the gait cycle
• Direct motion measurement system
• Electrogoniometers
• Electromyography
• Combined kinetic/kinematic system
 VISUAL GAIT CYCLE
➢Depends on the skill of observer
➢Subject should be observed from different sides to
observe gait abnormalities
➢Minimum length to be walked = ~10-12 m
➢Compare range of motion at joints during walking
with those observed on examination plinth
➢Cameras may be used
 ELECTROGONIOMETERS
➢Makes continuous measurements of the angle of a joint
➢Potentiometer devices
• Variable resistor
• Turning of central spindle
• Change in electrical resistance
• Measures joint angle
• Body is connected to one limb
• Spindle is connected to the connecting limb
TRIAXIAL GONIOMETERS ON HIP, KNEE AND
ANKLE
 ELECTROMYOGRAPHY
➢Measures electrical activity of contracting muscle
➢Main methods
• Surface electrodes
• Fine-wire electrodes
• Needle electrodes
➢Helps in timing muscle activation
➢But cannot measure strength of contraction
ELECTROMYOGRAPHY
COMBINED KINETIC / KINEMATIC SYSTEMS
 GAIT ABNORMALITIES
• Equinas : Walking on the toe
• Drop Foot :
• Antalgic :
• Trendelenburg : Hip Drop
• Short Leg : Different length of two legs
• Spina Bifida
• Cerebral Palsy