Gait Cycle

Hossein Khorrami, Ph.D. DOMP

• gf
• Stance phase: Consists of the entire time
that a foot is on the ground
• Swing phase: Consists of the entire time
that the foot is in the air
 Stance Phase
• Initial contact(heel strike)
• Foot flat(loading response)
• Mid stance
• Terminal stance(heel off)
• Toe off(pre swing)
 Stance Intervals
• Initial double support: 10%
• Single support: 40%
• Terminal double support: 10%
 Swing Phase
• Initial swing(acceleration)
• Mid swing
• Terminal swing(deceleration)
 Stride Length vs Step Length
• Stride length: Distance between successive
ground contact of the same foot
– Distance from the heel of right foot (starting
position) to the heel of right foot (ending position)
– Average: 150cm(5ft)

• Step length: distance from the heel of right

foot to the heel of left foot
– Average: 75cm(2.5ft)
Temporal & Spatial Variables
• Cadence: Steps or strides-cycles/min
• Walking base: Stride width or distance
between line of feet
• Degree of toe out: ~7o, decreases with speed
 Factors Influencing Gait
• Musculoskletal
– muscle, tendon, ligaments
– Joint, bones
– Soft tissue, fascia
• Neurological issues
– Central, basal ganglia, cerebellum,..
– Peripheral
Hip Stabilizers
G. Medius, dual function