CTO CTO Biomechanics & Gait Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the term for the excessive forward lean of the trunk during ambulation, often compensating for weak quadriceps?
- Lateral trunk bending
- Forward trunk lean (Correct answer)
- Pelvic tilt
- Hip hike
Correct answer: Forward trunk lean
Forward trunk lean is a compensatory strategy where patients lean forward to move the ground reaction force in front of the knee, reducing demand on the quadriceps.
Question 2: During which gait phase does heel strike normally occur?
- Pre-swing
- Terminal swing
- Initial contact (Correct answer)
- Midstance
Correct answer: Initial contact
Heel strike, now termed initial contact, is the moment the heel first touches the ground at the beginning of the stance phase.
Question 3: What does a shortened step length on one side typically indicate?
- Increased cadence
- Pain or instability on the opposite limb (Correct answer)
- Leg length discrepancy only
- Normal variation in gait
Correct answer: Pain or instability on the opposite limb
A shortened step length on one side often indicates pain or instability in the opposite limb, causing the patient to spend less time in single-limb stance on that side.
Question 4: Which plane of motion does ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion occur in?
- Frontal plane
- Transverse plane
- Sagittal plane (Correct answer)
- Coronal plane
Correct answer: Sagittal plane
Ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion occur in the sagittal plane, which divides the body into left and right halves.
Question 5: What is cadence in gait analysis?
- The speed of walking in meters per second
- The number of steps taken per minute (Correct answer)
- The length of each stride
- The width of the base of support
Correct answer: The number of steps taken per minute
Cadence is defined as the number of steps taken per minute and is a key temporal parameter in gait analysis.
Question 6: Excessive knee flexion during midstance is often compensated by which orthotic feature?
- A flexible ankle joint
- A solid ankle with plantarflexion stop
- A knee extension assist (Correct answer)
- An anterior tibial shell
Correct answer: A knee extension assist
A knee extension assist incorporated into a knee-ankle-foot orthosis helps correct excessive knee flexion during midstance by providing an extending force.
CTO CTO Biomechanics & Gait Analysis 2
What is the term for the excessive forward lean of the trunk during ambulation, often compensating for weak quadriceps?