Gait Cycle and Biomechanics of Walking – MCQs

1. The gait cycle is defined as:
(A) Sequence of motions that occur from one heel strike to the next heel strike of the same foot
(B) One step
(C) Walking with both feet together
(D) Running stride

2. The gait cycle is divided into:
(A) Stance and swing phases
(B) Flexion and extension
(C) Pronation and supination
(D) Internal and external rotation

3. The stance phase occupies approximately:
(A) 60% of gait cycle
(B) 40% of gait cycle
(C) 70% of gait cycle
(D) 50% of gait cycle

4. The swing phase occupies approximately:
(A) 40% of gait cycle
(B) 60% of gait cycle
(C) 50% of gait cycle
(D) 70% of gait cycle

5. The stance phase begins with:
(A) Initial contact (heel strike)
(B) Toe off
(C) Mid-swing
(D) Terminal swing

6. The stance phase ends with:
(A) Toe off of the same foot
(B) Heel strike
(C) Mid-stance
(D) Foot flat

7. The swing phase begins with:
(A) Toe off
(B) Heel strike
(C) Mid-stance
(D) Initial contact of opposite foot

8. The swing phase ends with:
(A) Heel strike of the same foot
(B) Toe off
(C) Mid-swing
(D) Single support

9. Double support occurs when:
(A) Both feet are in contact with the ground
(B) One foot is in the air
(C) During running only
(D) During stance phase only

10. Single limb support occurs when:
(A) Only one foot is in contact with the ground
(B) Both feet are on the ground
(C) During running only
(D) During initial contact only

11. The main function of gait is:
(A) To move the body efficiently from one point to another
(B) To strengthen upper limbs
(C) To improve vision
(D) To rotate the head

12. Stride length is defined as:
(A) Distance between successive heel strikes of the same foot
(B) Distance between left and right feet
(C) Step width
(D) Length of tibia

13. Step length is defined as:
(A) Distance between heel strike of one foot and heel strike of the opposite foot
(B) Distance between heels of same foot
(C) Width of stance
(D) Length of stride

14. Cadence refers to:
(A) Number of steps per minute
(B) Step length
(C) Stride width
(D) Walking speed

15. Walking speed is calculated as:
(A) Step length × cadence
(B) Stride length × step width
(C) Step length × stride width
(D) Cadence × stride width

16. The main muscles active during initial contact are:
(A) Tibialis anterior and quadriceps
(B) Gastrocnemius only
(C) Hamstrings only
(D) Gluteus medius only

17. During loading response, which muscles stabilize the knee?
(A) Quadriceps
(B) Hamstrings
(C) Gastrocnemius
(D) Gluteus maximus

18. The mid-stance phase involves:
(A) Body weight directly over the supporting limb
(B) Toe off
(C) Heel strike
(D) Swing of opposite limb

19. The terminal stance ends with:
(A) Contralateral initial contact
(B) Toe off
(C) Heel strike
(D) Mid-swing

20. Pre-swing phase is also called:
(A) Toe-off
(B) Initial contact
(C) Mid-stance
(D) Terminal swing

21. During initial swing, which muscles are most active?
(A) Hip flexors
(B) Knee extensors
(C) Ankle plantarflexors
(D) Quadratus lumborum

22. During mid-swing, the foot is:
(A) Off the ground, advancing forward
(B) On the ground
(C) At initial contact
(D) Plantarflexed

23. During terminal swing, the hamstrings act to:
(A) Decelerate the leg
(B) Accelerate the leg
(C) Plantarflex the foot
(D) Extend the toes

24. Ground reaction force (GRF) is:
(A) Force exerted by the ground on the foot during walking
(B) Muscle force only
(C) Gravity only
(D) Joint torque only

25. The vertical displacement of COG during walking is approximately:
(A) 5 cm
(B) 1 cm
(C) 10 cm
(D) 20 cm

26. The lateral displacement of COG during walking is approximately:
(A) 4 cm
(B) 1 cm
(C) 10 cm
(D) 2 cm

27. Stride width refers to:
(A) Lateral distance between feet
(B) Step length
(C) Cadence
(D) Stride length

28. The stance phase can be subdivided into:
(A) Initial contact, loading response, mid-stance, terminal stance, pre-swing
(B) Heel strike only
(C) Toe-off only
(D) Swing only

29. The swing phase can be subdivided into:
(A) Initial swing, mid-swing, terminal swing
(B) Mid-stance only
(C) Pre-swing only
(D) Heel strike only

30. During heel strike, the ankle is:
(A) Dorsiflexed
(B) Plantarflexed
(C) Neutral
(D) Inversion only

31. During toe-off, the ankle is:
(A) Plantarflexed
(B) Dorsiflexed
(C) Neutral
(D) Everted

32. The gluteus medius acts during mid-stance to:
(A) Stabilize the pelvis
(B) Flex the knee
(C) Plantarflex the ankle
(D) Extend the spine

33. The tibialis anterior acts during swing phase to:
(A) Dorsiflex the foot
(B) Plantarflex the foot
(C) Extend knee
(D) Flex hip

34. Walking on uneven surfaces increases:
(A) Postural adjustments and muscle activity
(B) Stride length only
(C) Cadence only
(D) Step width only

35. Gait speed is influenced by:
(A) Step length and cadence
(B) Muscle tone only
(C) Ankle dorsiflexion only
(D) Knee flexion only

36. Antalgic gait is characterized by:
(A) Shortened stance phase on affected limb
(B) Longer stance on affected limb
(C) Normal gait
(D) High cadence only

37. Trendelenburg gait occurs due to:
(A) Weak hip abductors
(B) Weak quadriceps
(C) Weak gastrocnemius
(D) Weak hamstrings

38. Crouch gait is due to:
(A) Excessive hip and knee flexion
(B) Hip extension only
(C) Knee extension only
(D) Ankle plantarflexion only

39. Hemiplegic gait is characterized by:
(A) Circumduction of affected limb
(B) Normal stride
(C) High cadence only
(D) Excessive swing phase only

40. Parkinsonian gait shows:
(A) Shuffling steps, reduced arm swing
(B) Long stride
(C) Increased cadence only
(D) High knee flexion

41. Ataxic gait is due to:
(A) Cerebellar dysfunction
(B) Muscle weakness only
(C) Spinal cord injury
(D) Visual impairment only

42. Running gait differs from walking gait in:
(A) Presence of flight phase
(B) Stance phase longer
(C) Single support longer
(D) Step width reduced

43. Energy expenditure during gait is minimized by:
(A) Efficient stride length and cadence
(B) High step frequency
(C) Long stance phase only
(D) Short step width only

44. Knee flexion during swing phase is approximately:
(A) 60°
(B) 30°
(C) 10°
(D) 90°

45. Hip flexion during swing phase is approximately:
(A) 30°
(B) 10°
(C) 50°
(D) 60°

46. Pelvic rotation during gait is approximately:
(A) 8° forward and backward
(B) 0°
(C) 20°
(D) 15° only

47. Pelvic tilt during gait is approximately:
(A) 5° up and down
(B) 0°
(C) 10° only
(D) 15°

48. The toe-out angle during normal walking is approximately:
(A) 7°
(B) 0°
(C) 15°
(D) 20°

49. Gait symmetry refers to:
(A) Similar step length and timing between both limbs
(B) Step width only
(C) Cadence only
(D) Stride length only

50. Abnormal gait analysis helps in:
(A) Diagnosing neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders
(B) Measuring height only
(C) Counting steps only
(D) Measuring COG only