Final answer:
The gluteus maximus muscle is active during Initial Contact, Mid Stance, and Terminal Stance phases of gait to provide stability and control hip movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gluteus maximus (glut max) muscle is active at different phases of the gait cycle. It is mainly active during:
- Initial Contact: At the moment when the foot makes contact with the ground, the glut max is active to stabilize the hip joint and prevent the knee from collapsing inward.
- Mid Stance: During this phase, the glut max contracts to maintain stability and control the forward progression of the body.
- Terminal Stance: As the body moves forward onto the toes, the glut max eccentrically contracts to control hip extension.
Therefore, the correct answer choices are A) Initial Contact, B) Mid Stance, and C) Terminal Stance.