National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

What is defined as the distance from the point of heel strike of one limb to the point of heel strike of the contralateral limb?

1. Stride length

2. Step length

3. Step height

4. Gait Cycle

The correct answer is: Step length

The correct answer is step length, which is defined as the distance from the point of heel strike of one limb to the point of heel strike of the opposite, or contralateral, limb. This measure reflects a single step taken during walking or running, providing significant insight into a person's gait mechanics. Understanding step length is critical for assessing gait patterns and can be an important factor in rehabilitation and performance optimization, as variations in step length may indicate underlying issues such as balance deficits, musculoskeletal problems, or neurological conditions. In contrast, stride length represents the distance covered in a full gait cycle, which includes two steps (one from each leg), while step height does not pertain to horizontal distance and generally refers to vertical movement during walking or running. The term gait cycle encompasses the entire sequence of events that occur from one heel strike to the next heel strike of the same foot, making it broader than step length.