What is gait?

What is gait?

• A. Manner or style of walking
• B. Speed of walking
• C. Posture of the trunk
• D. Range of motion of joints

Answer: (A)

Gait is the manner or style of walking—the observable pattern of how the body moves its legs, pelvis, and trunk to travel. It describes the coordinated sequence of movements in each gait cycle, including timing, step length, cadence, foot placement, weight transfer, and trunk/pelvic motion. Speed can vary without changing the basic gait pattern, so two people can walk at the same pace with very different gaits. Posture of the trunk or the range of motion of joints influence gait, but gait itself is the overall walking pattern, not any single component. In practice, gait analysis looks for deviations in this pattern to spot neuromuscular or orthopedic issues.

Gait is the manner or style of walking—the observable pattern of how the body moves its legs, pelvis, and trunk to travel. It describes the coordinated sequence of movements in each gait cycle, including timing, step length, cadence, foot placement, weight transfer, and trunk/pelvic motion. Speed can vary without changing the basic gait pattern, so two people can walk at the same pace with very different gaits. Posture of the trunk or the range of motion of joints influence gait, but gait itself is the overall walking pattern, not any single component. In practice, gait analysis looks for deviations in this pattern to spot neuromuscular or orthopedic issues.