Gait Cycle
The complete sequence of events between two successive instances of the same foot contacting the ground, serving as the fundamental unit of analysis in prosthetic ambulation assessment.
Full Definition
The gait cycle is the standardised biomechanical framework used to analyse walking, divided into two primary phases: stance phase (approximately 60% of the cycle, when the foot is in contact with the ground) and swing phase (approximately 40%, when the foot is airborne). In prosthetics, the gait cycle is subdivided further into events such as initial contact, loading response, mid-stance, terminal stance, pre-swing, initial swing, mid-swing, and terminal swing. Prosthetic gait analysis documents frequently use these subphase labels, and editors must apply them consistently and in their correct sequence. The term 'gait cycle' should not be confused with 'stride' (which covers one full cycle) or 'step' (which covers only half a cycle). Accurate use of gait cycle terminology is essential in peer-reviewed research, clinical gait lab reports, and device trial documentation.
Usage
Usage note: Editors must distinguish 'step' (one foot contact to the next, covering half a cycle) from 'stride' (synonymous with 'gait cycle,' covering a full cycle); conflation is common in lay and semi-technical writing.