Pre-swing is best described as which of the following?

Pre-swing is best described as which of the following?

• A. The body progresses over a stable limb
• B. Heel first contact
• C. Rapid unloading of the trailing limb as weight transfers to the opposite foot
• D. Final knee extension before contact

Answer: (C)

Pre-swing is the phase of the gait cycle where the body transfers weight onto the opposite leg while the trailing limb rapidly unloads in preparation for its swing. This rapid unloading of the leg that has been bearing weight, as the weight shifts to the contralateral foot, sets up forward propulsion and allows the leg to swing forward smoothly. The moment isn’t about the foot just touching the ground at heel strike, nor about the knee extending at the very end of swing before landing on the opposite foot. It’s specifically the transitional window where weight moves to the other leg and the trailing leg unloads to begin its forward swing.

Pre-swing is the phase of the gait cycle where the body transfers weight onto the opposite leg while the trailing limb rapidly unloads in preparation for its swing. This rapid unloading of the leg that has been bearing weight, as the weight shifts to the contralateral foot, sets up forward propulsion and allows the leg to swing forward smoothly. The moment isn’t about the foot just touching the ground at heel strike, nor about the knee extending at the very end of swing before landing on the opposite foot. It’s specifically the transitional window where weight moves to the other leg and the trailing leg unloads to begin its forward swing.