The gait cycle is sometimes called the walking cycle. The gait cycle extends from heel strike to heel strike of one leg and includes the stance and swing phases of both legs.
According to the University of Glasgow, three phases of the gait cycle exist:
- The Stance constitutes 60% of a normal gait cycle. The foot is in contact with the floor and is bearing weight. The foot provides shock absorption and support.
- Heel strike – dorsiflexion of the ankle, knee fully extended (weak knee muscles cause the knee to buckle or bend)
- Flat foot – the contact foot absorbs the weight of the body (impacted by weakened ankle dorsiflexors, the foot drops or flops)
- Mid-stance – even weight distribution during single-leg stance (weak hip abductors cause the pelvis to tip down on opposite side, lack of hip extension)
- Push-off – heel leaves the floor and leg prepares for the swing phase (adequate strength in calf muscles needed)
- The Swing Phase constitutes 40% of a normal gait cycle. The foot does not bear weight as it moves forward. Quadriceps are primary muscles used for swinging the legs. There are three sub-phases of the Swing Phase:
- Initial Swing: Ankle dorsiflexors lift the toes off ground to prevent them from dragging. Knee flexes to about 60% to allow the leg to accelerate forward.
- Mid Swing: The swing leg passes the weight bearing leg. If dorsiflexors are weak, the hip must flex more; results in a high-stepping gait.
- Terminal Swing: The swing leg lowers down before making contact with the floor. Quadriceps and hamstrings work together to control the speed of the swing.
- The Double Stance Phase is when both feet are in contact with the floor. It occurs twice during a normal gait cycle as the body weight shifts to opposite leg.
While stability instructors are not required to perform a formal gait assessment, be mindful of moving the hips through all primary directions: flexion, extension, rotation, abduction, adduction and circumduction, as hip mobility allows. In addition, movements that target the ankle and the knee are helpful in building both endurance, stability, and range of motion.
To check for normal gait pattern, you would need to observe the following criteria:
- Step width or the distance feet are apart when walking
- Normal is 2-4 inches
- Stride length or the distance between right and left heel strikes
- Normal is 14-16 inches
- Lateral pelvic shift or side-to-side movement occurring as weight is centered over hips
- Vertical pelvic shift occurring at mid-stance and at low point of heel strike
- Pelvic rotation to accommodate movements of the legs
- Toes angled outward at 5º to 10º
(Alabady, 2012)