Which combination best describes mid-swing hip and ankle positions?

Which combination best describes mid-swing hip and ankle positions?

• A. Hip extension 10°, ankle plantarflexion 5°
• B. Hip flexion 25°, ankle dorsiflexion 0°
• C. Hip neutral, ankle dorsiflexion 15°
• D. Hip flexion 10°, ankle plantarflexion 5°

Answer: (D)

In mid-swing, the leg is moving forward for continued progression, so the hip remains flexed to pull the thigh forward while the ankle is positioned to orient the foot for the next step without risking toe clearance issues. The combination with some hip flexion and a small amount of plantarflexion best matches this mid-swing pattern in the standard assessment context. The other options either show the hip in extension or neutral (which wouldn’t reflect forward progression) or place the ankle in a dorsiflexed pattern that aligns more with different phases of gait.

In mid-swing, the leg is moving forward for continued progression, so the hip remains flexed to pull the thigh forward while the ankle is positioned to orient the foot for the next step without risking toe clearance issues. The combination with some hip flexion and a small amount of plantarflexion best matches this mid-swing pattern in the standard assessment context. The other options either show the hip in extension or neutral (which wouldn’t reflect forward progression) or place the ankle in a dorsiflexed pattern that aligns more with different phases of gait.