Lab 8

Activity: Posture, Gait and Abnormal Gait

Part I: Postural Analysis – perform a postural analysis all group members. Discuss the impact of any “resting” deviations from “normal” posture on movement. Discuss strategies to improve any postural deviations identified.

1. When performing a standing postural analysis from the lateral view, check the box where the plumb line should be in relation to the following body landmarks.

Landmark / Anterior / Posterior / Through
Ear
Tip of the acromion
Thoracic spine
Lumbar spine
Hip
Knee
Ankle

2. Draw a figure in the lateral view. Identify in the following table whether the anterior and posterior curved are concave and convex.

Spine Region / Posterior Curve / Anterior Curve
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral

3. Make a chart on the board, list each class member and indicate whether the classmate is right- or left-handed.

Observe you partner from the posterior view and determine if either the right or left shoulder is higher.

Enter the information on the chart on the board.

When all have entered their data, analyze the data for any correlation between shoulder position and hand dominance.

4. Observe the standing posture of each person in your lab class using a plumb line.

A. Observe them from the lateral view

Drop a plumb line.

The segments of the body should be so that the line of gravity falls:

a. Slightly anterior to lateral malleolus

b. Slightly anterior to midline of knee (with hip extended)

c. Slightly posterior to the hip joint axis (with hip extended)

d. Anterior to sacroiliac joint

Are the spinal curves normal? Exaggerated?

Left Lateral View: Deviations from Normal Alignment

Ankles
Knees
Hips
Lumbar Spine
Thoracic Spine
Acromion Process
Ear
Top of Head

Right Lateral View: Deviations from Normal Alignment

Ankles
Knees
Hips
Lumbar Spine
Thoracic Spine
Acromion Process
Ear
Top of Head

B. Observe them from the anterior view

a. Notice the foot, ankle and knee

b. Is there valgus or varus of the knee?

c. Is the ankle pronated or supinated?

Anterior View: Deviations from Normal Alignment

Ankles
Knees
Hips
Sternum
Shoulders
Face
Arms

C. Observe then from the posterior view

a. Are there any lateral deviations of the spine?

b. Is the pelvis level? Look at the iliac crests

c. Are the shoulders level? Which shoulder is higher? Dominant arm or nondominant?

d. Are the shoulder blades “winging”?

e. Is the calcaneous (heel of foot) in pronation or supination?

Posterior View: Deviations from Normal Alignment

Ankles
Knees
Hips
Sternum
Shoulders
Face
Arms

Note:

Any muscle involvement

Neuromuscular considerations

Mechanical factors

Principles

Any violations

Additional Questions:

1. Now ask a female student to put on high heels and go through the above analysis. How did high heels change the static posture?

2. Now ask the person to lift one leg off the floor (without the shoes) and perform single leg stance. Now analyze the posture. Pay close attention to the pelvis. Does it remain level? What muscles are working to maintain the pelvis in position?

3. Describe improvement for posture ( i.e. exaggerated lordotic curve)

4. Describe the method for change. (i.e. strengthen abdominals)

Part II: Gait Analysis – Analyze the gait of group members walking back and forth. Pay particular attention to the sagittal plane and the hip, knee and ankle. Notice any deviations from normal gait.

1. A. A line drawn between successive midpoints of heel strike would reveal what about a person’s walking base? ______.

B. What is the highest at midstance and lowest at heelstrike? ______.

C. The number of steps taken per minute is called? ______.

D. As the center of gravity shifts from side to side during walking, there are equal amounts of ? ______.

2. A. In what way are the Trendelenburg sign and Trandelenberg gait similar? ______.

B. In what way are Trendelenberg sign and Trendelenburg gait different? ______.

3. Match the following term(s) with the appropriate description:

_____ Occurs during swing phase / A. Single Leg support, Midstance
_____ Body weight shifts allowing one leg to swing / B. Weight acceptance, heel strike
_____ Body stance phase / C. Leg advancement

4. Match the description with the appropriate period of the gait cycle.

_____ Occurs during approximately 40% of the gait cycle / A. Nonsupport
_____ Center of gravity is the lowest point / B. Single-leg support
_____ Does not occur in walking / C. Double-leg support

5. Match the following descriptions with the appropriate period or point of the gait cycle.

_____ Between end of toe-off and end of acceleration / A. Initial contact
_____ Between end of foot flat and end of midstance / B. Foot flat
_____ Between end of midstance and end of heel-off / C. Midstance
_____ The leg swung as far forward as it is going to / D. Terminal stance
_____ Body weight begins to shift onto stance leg / E. Preswing
_____ Between the end of acceleration and end of midswing / F. Initial swing
_____ Just before and including when toes leave the ground / G. Midswing
____ Entire foot is in contact with the ground / H. Deceleration

6. List in order of occurrence the components of the gait cycle using both traditional terminology and RLA terminology.

Traditional / RLA
STANCE / STANCE
Heel strike / Initial contact
XX
SWING / SWING

7. Match the following terms and definitions.

_____ Distance between heel strike of one foot and the heel strike of the other / A. Stance phase
_____ Side-to-side distance between heels / B. Stride Length
_____ Distance between heel strike of one foot and heel strike of the same foot / C. Step width
_____ That part of the gait cycle when the foot is in contact with the ground / D. Swing phase
_____ That part of the gait cycle when the foot is not in contact with the ground / E. Step length

8. Joint movement during gait is produced by muscle contractions, gravity, and joint response in a closed kinetic chain. Determining the direction of joint movement, within a phase and from one phase of gait to the next, is necessary to analyze which muscles are working and what type of contraction a muscle is performing. For each phase of the gait cycle indicate.

a) The position (or motion) that is occurring at each joint

b) Briefly describe what is happening. Examples are: unchanged; slight flexion from full extension; and increasing dorsiflexion.

*Exercises adapted from: Lippert, L; Duesterhaus Minor, M.A. Laboratory Manual for Clinical Kinesiology and Anatomy 2nd ed. F.A. Davis Company, 2007. 297-301, 305-309.

Lab 8 continues on next page…