Some knee flexor activation occurs at terminal swing to help control what?

Some knee flexor activation occurs at terminal swing to help control what?

• A. Forward momentum of knee extension
• B. Heel rise
• C. Center of pressure shift
• D. Subtalar eversion

Answer: (A)

During terminal swing, the leg is swinging forward into knee extension in preparation for heel contact. The knee flexors (hamstrings) activate to slow this extension—that eccentric action controls the forward momentum of the lower leg as the tibia moves toward the knee. This keeps the knee from snapping into extension too quickly and helps the foot land with the knee and leg in a stable, prepared position for initial contact. Other options don’t fit because they involve different parts of the gait cycle: heel rise occurs later in push-off and involves plantarflexors, not knee flexors; center of pressure shift relates to weight transfer under the foot; subtalar eversion concerns the ankle-foot complex, not knee flexor control.

During terminal swing, the leg is swinging forward into knee extension in preparation for heel contact. The knee flexors (hamstrings) activate to slow this extension—that eccentric action controls the forward momentum of the lower leg as the tibia moves toward the knee. This keeps the knee from snapping into extension too quickly and helps the foot land with the knee and leg in a stable, prepared position for initial contact.

Other options don’t fit because they involve different parts of the gait cycle: heel rise occurs later in push-off and involves plantarflexors, not knee flexors; center of pressure shift relates to weight transfer under the foot; subtalar eversion concerns the ankle-foot complex, not knee flexor control.