Gait and Prosthetics Flashcards
6 cards from real MPT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Gait and Prosthetics flashcards as text
Normal cadence for adults during comfortable walking is approximately:
Answer: 100-120 steps per minute
Normal adult cadence during comfortable walking is approximately 100-120 steps per minute. Stride length and cadence together determine gait velocity.
A transtibial (below-knee) amputee demonstrates excessive knee flexion during stance. The most likely prosthetic cause is:
Answer: Excessive plantar flexion of the prosthetic foot
Excessive plantar flexion of the prosthetic foot creates a dorsiflexion moment at the knee during stance, forcing the knee into flexion and producing a flexed knee gait pattern.
In the Rancho Los Amigos gait nomenclature, initial contact corresponds to which event in traditional gait terminology?
Answer: Heel strike
In the Rancho Los Amigos system, initial contact replaces the traditional term heel strike and describes the moment the foot first contacts the ground, regardless of which part contacts first.
A patient with a transfemoral (above-knee) amputation displays a lateral trunk lean toward the prosthetic side during stance. The most likely cause is:
Answer: Hip abductor weakness on the residual limb side
Lateral trunk lean (Trendelenburg-type gait) toward the prosthetic side indicates hip abductor weakness on the residual limb, causing the trunk to lean over the prosthesis to reduce hip abductor demand.
Which component of a transfemoral prosthesis controls knee stability during the loading response phase?
Answer: Knee extension assist or polycentric mechanism
Prosthetic knee stability during loading response is primarily controlled by the knee extension assist mechanism or polycentric (4-bar) linkage, which prevents knee buckling at initial contact.
The energy cost of walking increases most dramatically at what level of lower-limb amputation?
Answer: Transfemoral amputation
Transfemoral (above-knee) amputation increases the energy cost of walking by approximately 65-100%, compared to about 25% for transtibial amputation, due to loss of knee joint function and increased prosthetic weight.