Which gait involves advancing both crutches together, then lifting and placing both legs behind the crutches, forming a tripod?

• A. Four-Point Gait
• B. Two-Point Gait
• C. Swing-through Gait
• D. Swing-on Gait

Answer: (D)

This pattern relies on coordinating the crutches and legs so the body moves forward with a shared tripod base. In this gait, you push both crutches forward together, then swing both legs forward and place them beyond the crutches, so the body weight is supported by the crutches and the feet landing ahead of them, forming a tripod with the crutches and feet. This approach is used when the arms do most of the weight-bearing and allows the legs to travel forward more completely by swinging through.

Four-point gait advances one crutch and the opposite leg at a time, creating four separate points of contact. Two-point gait moves a crutch and the opposite leg as a pair. Swing-to gait brings the legs up to meet the crutches and land in line with them, not beyond. Swing-on gait isn’t a standard term for this pattern.