Ankle lurch gait is primarily caused by limitation in which joint, leading to hip and knee flexion to clear the leg?

Ankle lurch gait is primarily caused by limitation in which joint, leading to hip and knee flexion to clear the leg?

• A. Inability to plantarflex at push-off
• B. Circumduction gait
• C. Ankle lurch gait
• D. Trendelenburg gait

Answer: (C)

Ankle lurch gait happens when the ankle joint cannot move well into dorsiflexion. With limited dorsiflexion, the foot tends to stay more plantarflexed, making it hard to clear the foot during swing and early stance. To get the leg through and avoid dragging the toes, the person uses a compensatory pattern by increasing hip and knee flexion, producing a noticeable lurch as the leg advances. This is why the described pattern points to a restriction at the ankle—specifically in dorsiflexion—and the hip and knee flexion are the body's way of compensating to clear the leg. Inability to plantarflex at push-off mainly affects propulsion rather than clearance, circumduction gait is a different strategy used to clear the foot by swinging the leg outward, and Trendelenburg gait is due to hip abductor weakness affecting pelvic stability rather than ankle clearance.

Ankle lurch gait happens when the ankle joint cannot move well into dorsiflexion. With limited dorsiflexion, the foot tends to stay more plantarflexed, making it hard to clear the foot during swing and early stance. To get the leg through and avoid dragging the toes, the person uses a compensatory pattern by increasing hip and knee flexion, producing a noticeable lurch as the leg advances. This is why the described pattern points to a restriction at the ankle—specifically in dorsiflexion—and the hip and knee flexion are the body's way of compensating to clear the leg.

Inability to plantarflex at push-off mainly affects propulsion rather than clearance, circumduction gait is a different strategy used to clear the foot by swinging the leg outward, and Trendelenburg gait is due to hip abductor weakness affecting pelvic stability rather than ankle clearance.