The gait cycle- a normal walking pattern

This is a diagram of the normal gait cycle. It is broken down into three different phases.

The first phase is the contact phase. This is where your heel as it goes forward hits the ground. Normal contact of the heel is on the posterior outside of the heel, not the direct back of the heel. So, normal heel wear will occur on the posterior outside of the heel. If your heels wear out directly on the back side of the heel or even the posterior inside of the heel, you do not have a normal gait.

This phase continues until the foot is flat on the ground. This constitutes 20 percent of the total gait cycle.

The next phase is the midstance phase. In this part of the gait cycle which represents 30 percent of the cycle, your body weight passes over your foot as the body comes forward. This is where your foot (in this case the right foot) supports your body weight. This is the part of the gait cycle where an abnormally functioning foot such as an over pronated foot (flat foot) or an over supinated foot (high arch foot) will manifest its problems.

This phase ends as your body weight passes forward eventually forcing your heel to rise.

These two phases which represent one half of the total cycle is the part of the gait cycle where you will experience most heel, arch and midfoot pain.

The last phase representing the remaining 50 percent of the gait cycle is the propulsion phase where the foot pushes off the ground to propel the body forward. Most forefoot pain results in this phase of the cycle.

Below is a picture of weight distribution pattern seen in a normal gait cycle. The heel initially picks up the body weight, the weight then is distributed along the lateral or outside part of the foot. Body weight is then picked up by the ball of the foot and lastly the weight is absorbed by the big toe as you push off with that foot.