KNEE JOINT

Inadequate flexion/ Hyperextension

1. Stance Phase

1. Primary cause-quads spasticity/ contracture
2. Hyperextension of the knee – called recurvatum gait may be a result of aggressive medial/lateral distal hams lengthening, e.g. IC cp.
3. Secondary cause-inc in stance phase ankle PF, which may cause recurvatum.
4. May reflect a compensatory deviation for knee/patellofemoral pain, weakness of quads-as in polio.
5. Consequences- dec shock absorption ability

-dec forward progression of tibia & potential injury to posterior knee

structures

-sub-optimal positioning of limb for IC & LR

B) Swing Phase

1. Primary cause-quads spasticity /contracture e.g. as in stiff knee gait.
2. Secondary cause – hip flexor weakness,

-PF contracture

3. May occur as a compensatory mechanism for knee pain/quad weakness.

4. Consequence-impaired foot clearance in initial & mid-swing

-pre-swing knee flexion is lost in PF contracture b/c earlier quads

-control is not terminated in time

• Knee HE –commonly used to move body forward when tibia can’t advance sufficiently.
• Induced by body momentum for knee extension stability in quads weakness