When the left leg is going through swing, what occurs at the pelvis?

When the left leg is going through swing, what occurs at the pelvis?

• A. Left Pelvic Drop
• B. No Pelvic Motion
• C. Right Pelvic Drop
• D. Right Pelvic Elevation Only

Answer: (A)

When the left leg is moving through swing, the body weight is carried by the right leg, which is in stance. The hip abductors of the stance leg work to keep the pelvis level in the frontal plane. Gravity acts on the swinging limb and there’s less muscular support on that side, so the pelvis tends to tilt downward toward the swinging side. That means the left side of the pelvis drops slightly during left-leg swing. This downward tilt on the swinging side is a normal part of gait; a larger drop on the stance side would suggest weakness there, but under normal conditions the left pelvis drops as the left leg swings through.

When the left leg is moving through swing, the body weight is carried by the right leg, which is in stance. The hip abductors of the stance leg work to keep the pelvis level in the frontal plane. Gravity acts on the swinging limb and there’s less muscular support on that side, so the pelvis tends to tilt downward toward the swinging side. That means the left side of the pelvis drops slightly during left-leg swing. This downward tilt on the swinging side is a normal part of gait; a larger drop on the stance side would suggest weakness there, but under normal conditions the left pelvis drops as the left leg swings through.