1. Stair Gait
Lecture Notes

2. Stair Gait
Stair climbing is a general type of motion, because it involves an angular motion in the joints & a translatory movement of the whole body.
Stair gate is similar to level-ground gait:
They both involve swing & stance phases
Progression of the body is done by alternating movement of lower extremities
Lower extremities must balance and carry HAT (head, arms, trunk)
Like walking, in stair climbing we have a time when both feet are touching the steps. One foot on the first step & the other on the second step

3. Stair Gait Stair gate is different than level-ground gait:
The firs thing we put on the stair is the anterior portion of the foot, unlike in level walking where posterior portion of the foot (heel) is put first on the ground
The subphases of stance & swing phase are different

4. Phases of Stair Gait Stance phase includes: Swing phase includes:
Weight Acceptance
Pull Up
Forward Continuation
Swing phase includes:
Foot Clearance
Foot Placement

5. Stance Phase 1- Weight Acceptance
Take the first 14% of the stair gait cycle
We can compare it to the heel strike of walking gait, because here the person is ready to load his weight to that extremity

6. Stance Phase 2- Pull Up
Meaning pull up the other leg, along with the whole body
Extends from 14% to 32% of the stair gait cycle
It is a period of single limb support, equivalent to midstance in walking gait
It is a time of instability, because all of the body weight is shifted to the stance extremity
Knee extensors (quadriceps) are responsible for most energy generation required here

7. Stance Phase 3- Forward Continuous
The period from 32% to 64% of stair gait cycle
Equivalent to midstance, heel off & toe off of walking gait
Ankle planterflexors are responsible for most energy generation required here

8. ¿Question?
If a person can walk normally, can you tell if he/she can go upstairs?!
No, because the ranges of motion required for stair gait is different than the ranges of motion required for walking gait.
The amount of energy required is the least in walking. Stair climbing require more energy & more muscle activity

9. Swing Phase 1- Foot Clearance
When the person takes the whole foot off the first step
2- Foot Placement
When the person is ready to put the foot on the second step

10. Stair Gait Range of Motion For The Joints in Stance Phase
Concentric contraction of Gluteus maximus will take the hip from 60° of flexion to 5° of extension
Concentric contraction of Quadriceps will take the knee from 85° of flexion to 10° of extension
Concentric contraction of Gastoctemius will take the ankle from 25° of dorsiflexion to 15° of planterflexion

11. From All That We Notice
Concentric contraction is happening in all of these muscle , because we are taking the body weight forward & upward
Center of gravity is moving forward & upward
If we are doing upward motion against gravity we need concentric contraction to happen

12. Stair Gait Range of Motion For The Joints in Swing Phase
Concentric contraction of Gluteus medius will cause 10° -20° to 40°-60° of flexion in the hip joint
Concentric contraction of the hamstrings will cause 10° of flexion to 90° -100° flexion in the knee joint
Concentric contraction of the tibialis anterior will cause 10° of planterflexion to 20° of dorsiflexion in the ankle joint

13. Again We Notice!
Concentric contraction is happening in all of these muscle , because we are taking the body weight forward & upward
Center of gravity is moving forward & upward
If we are doing upward motion against gravity we need concentric contraction to happen

14. But, What If We Are Going Down Stairs?!
Eccentric contraction will happen in all of the previous muscles

15. Another Note
Ranges of motion will change depending on the stair, different stairs causes varying ranges of motion.

16.  Good Luck 