Vaulting gait is a compensatory walking pattern used when one leg is significantly longer than the other. It primarily involves rising onto the toes (tiptoeing) of the shorter leg during the stance phase to lift the pelvis and allow the longer leg to swing through without obstruction.
Here's a breakdown of vaulting gait:
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The Problem: A leg length discrepancy makes it difficult for the longer leg to clear the ground during the swing phase of gait. If the longer leg cannot clear the ground, the person may stumble or experience other gait deviations.
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The Compensation (Vaulting):
- During the single-limb stance phase of the shorter leg, the individual rises onto their toes (plantarflexion).
- This action effectively elevates the pelvis on the side of the shorter leg.
- The increased pelvic height provides the necessary clearance for the longer leg to swing through without dragging or catching.
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Why it's called "vaulting": The action is termed "vaulting" because the body "vaults" over the planted foot of the shorter leg, gaining height to facilitate forward progression.
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Consequences: While effective in compensating for leg length discrepancies, prolonged vaulting can lead to:
- Increased energy expenditure during walking.
- Muscle fatigue, particularly in the calf muscles of the shorter leg.
- Potential for overuse injuries in the foot, ankle, and knee.
- Abnormal stress on joints of the lower extremities.
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Other Compensations: While vaulting gait is a common compensation, individuals may also use other strategies like:
- Circumduction (swinging the longer leg outward in a semicircle)
- Hip hiking (elevating the hip on the swing leg side)
In summary, vaulting gait is a specific type of abnormal gait characterized by plantarflexion during stance phase on one side to compensate for relative lengthening of the opposite leg.
