Vaulting is a walking abnormality where someone will rise up on their toe to ensure their “swinging” leg clears the ground. Under normal conditions, the swinging leg must “shorten” as it passes by the ground. To “shorten” the leg the knee must bend and the foot must flex up. If the knee is unable to bend and/or lift the foot, the leg is technically too long to clear the ground. Vaulting is a way to adjust for this and not get the foot caught on the ground. Vaulting is a very inefficient walking pattern that will undoubtedly cause early onset fatigue.
What causes a vaulting gait pattern?
As mentioned above, vaulting usually occurs in a subconscious attempt to get the body further away from the ground. This is necessary if either the “swinging” leg knee will not bend, and/or the foot is pointed. There are several reasons why the knee will not bend and/or the foot may remain pointed through the swing phase of walking.
Spasticity in the foot
Spasticity in the foot is an involuntary pointing (downward). This is essence, makes the leg longer
Extensor Synergy Pattern
An extensor synergy pattern is an abnormal movement pattern that causes the hip knee to stay straight.
Drop foot
Drop foot is when the muscles that lift the foot are not working. Similar to a spastic ankle, the foot will stay pointed downward.
How do you stop vaulting?
Stretching
Stretching the muscles that point the foot is essential to ensure that the foot can bend up and clear the ground.
Movement Retraining
Movement retraining should focus on bending the knee
Unlearn a Bad “Habit”
Often times, the compensation of “vaulting” started in the early stages of recovery. This means that going up on the toe might be “engrained” in your brain and just needs to be “unlearned”. The best way to unlearn this habit is to start practicing stepping by adding a little length to the uninvolved shoe. By doing this, you can clear the involved foot and the brain will be so eager to “resort to vaulting”. A shoe leveler is a great way to add a little length to the uninvolved side.
Deeper Dive into Vaulting
Here is a video that goes a little deeper and provides more treatment ideas
Articles you may be interested in:
Balance Exercises For Stroke Patients
Balance exercises for stroke patients are critical for improving walking confidence and returning to normal life What is Balance? Balance is the ability to maintain the center of mass (the body) within the base of support (the feet). Balance is also the ability of the...
A Guide to Virtual Reality for Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation
Virtual reality (VR) technology allows users to immerse in a virtual environment, which has been changing the approaches to many industries, such as gaming, training, and education. Many industries are now exploring VR to improve user experience, enhance customer...
Complete guide to foot drop
Guide to Foot Drop The peroneal nerve includes a branch of the sciatica nerve that enables movement and supplies sensation to one’s feet, toes, and lower legs. Peroneal neuropathy or common peroneal dysfunction results from nerve damage outside the brain or spinal...
Fix a forward flexed posture
Do you ever have any "well-meaning" therapist tell you to stand up taller? 😬🤷🏻♀️ Well, you would not be alone. This is a pretty common problem that has a few different root causes. What causes a forward flexed posture? Weakness Weak hip muscles can potentially lead...
Can’t lift a stiff leg? Try this.
Can't lift a stiff leg? This is a pretty common problem that has a few different root causes. Knowing the root cause is the best way to identify the best exercises. What can make it difficult to lift a stiff leg? Weakness Weakness in the muscles that flex the hip...
Ankle Contractures: Best and worst treatments
One of many problems when the neurologic system is damaged are ankle contractures. A contracture is where the soft tissue structures surrounding a joint shorten causing loss of movement. What Causes a Contracture? There are several factors that can lead to an ankle...
Clonus: Causes and Treatment
Clonus is an involuntary, rhythmic muscle contraction followed by a relaxation. It is a sign that there is damage to the brain and/or the spinal cord (upper motor neuron). More specifically, the part of the nervous system that controls movement (descending motor...
Abnormal Muscle Synergies after a Stroke or Brain Injury
Abnormal muscle synergies are one of the most common "movement problems" after a stroke or brain injury. What is an abnormal muscle synergy? A flexor synergy is when the hip, knee, and ankle all flex at the same time (visualize drawing your knee into your chest). An...
Movement Retraining when dealing with Spasticity
Spasticity is an involuntary muscle contraction due to damage to the brain or spinal cord. This can cause muscle stiffness and pain. Additionally, involuntary muscle contractions cause the body to move in ways that feel out of one’s control. This is turn can create...
Relearn to walk: Progression (with videos)
Are you super eager to relearn to walk? Walking is a HUGE goal for anyone who has lost that ability. Walking means different things to different people. And quite honestly, has far less meaning until you have lost this fundamental skill. All that being said, it is...