Critical Reviews™ in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

ISSN for PRINT: 0896-2960

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2001, Volume13

Issue 1

94 pages

Issue price - $163.00

Sylvie Nadeau, PhD
School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, and CRIR, Montreal Rehabilitation Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Denis Gravel, PhD
School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, and CRIR, Montreal Rehabilitation Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Sandra Jean Olney
School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University Kingston, Ontario, Canada

In the field of rehabilitation, gait evaluation and training is an everyday task confronted by the therapist. To correct gait problems in an efficient manner, an understanding of the relevant gait concepts are essential. It is the purpose of this review to describe and discuss particular biomechanical issues that have consequences on gait training. This article reviews the determinants of gait, with special focus placed on the strength and range of motion (ROM) factors. General considerations are presented, followed by a summary of the specific roles of the sagittal muscle groups in gait. The literature about the associations between muscle weakness, ROM, and normal gait is reviewed, and findings are discussed in relation to the gait pattern. In the second part of the article, descriptions and concepts around the limiting factors and compensatory strategies are presented and discussed. This article is based on relevant literature and our understanding as physical therapists of what is important for rehabilitation specialists to know about the determinants, the limiting factors, and the compensatory strategies in gait.

Download article, 26 pages

Article price - $35.00

  Next article >>