gluteus maximus gait I lurching gait

gluteus maximus gait

It is also known as lurching gait characterized by posterior leaning of the trunk at heel strike in order to keep hip extended during stance phase.

Causes

•     Muscular atrophy
•     Spinal muscle atrophy

Clinical features

•     Weakness of quadriceps amd gluteus muscles
•     Tight hamstring muscles
•     Compensatory backward movement of trunk to maintain COG
•     Pelvic dropping

PT Management

a. Isometric strengthening exercise of the gluteus muscles:

Ideal position: supine lying on the bed

Ask the patient to contract his buttocks and hold for 30 sec and relax.

                                         OR

The therapist hold the patient leg and passively flex hip up to 15^o with hip abduction and now the patient is asked to contract the buttock.

b. Stretching of the contracted muscles like:

•      Hamstring muscle
•      contracted side trunk stretching
•      Trunk ROM to maintain mobility

c. Gait training

•     observe while walking the trunk should not lean backward
•      Parallel bar walking by placing a mirror in front of the patient this will provide a feedback         to the patient to correct the postures.