PAS Gait Analysis & Foot Mechanics Flashcards

A PAS specialist assessing gait observes hip circumduction on the right side during swing phase. The MOST likely cause is:

Answer: Insufficient right hip flexion or knee flexion during swing

Circumduction compensates for inadequate limb shortening during swing when hip or knee flexion is limited, allowing toe clearance by swinging the leg outward.

The 'double support' phase of the gait cycle refers to:

Answer: The period when both feet are simultaneously on the ground

Double support occurs twice per gait cycle (at initial contact and pre-swing) when both feet are on the ground, lasting approximately 20% of the cycle at normal speed.

Which intrinsic foot muscle is primarily responsible for stabilizing the longitudinal arch and controlling toe extension during late stance?

Answer: Flexor digitorum brevis

The flexor digitorum brevis spans the plantar arch and flexes the lesser toes, playing a key role in arch stability during the propulsive phase of gait.

Increased lumbar lordosis observed during the loading response phase of gait is MOST likely caused by:

Answer: Tight hip flexors reducing anterior pelvic tilt control

Tight hip flexors pull the pelvis into anterior tilt, accentuating lumbar lordosis particularly when the hip must extend through the loading and mid-stance phases.

What is the primary role of the tibialis posterior muscle during the stance phase of gait?

Answer: Supinating the subtalar joint to control pronation and support the medial arch

The tibialis posterior eccentrically controls subtalar pronation and helps maintain the medial longitudinal arch during weight-bearing.

A gait analysis tool that uses pressure-sensitive insoles to map plantar force distribution during walking is called a:

Answer: Pedobarograph / pressure mapping system

A pedobarograph or in-shoe pressure mapping system records plantar pressure distribution in real time, identifying high-load zones relevant to orthotics and postural correction.