Final Answer:
Exaggerated knee flexion at terminal stance is caused by weakness or dysfunction in the quadriceps muscles.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the human gait cycle, the terminal stance phase occurs when the foot is planted on the ground, and the body moves over it. At this point, the quadriceps muscles play a crucial role in stabilizing the knee joint and controlling its flexion. When there is weakness or dysfunction in the quadriceps, the ability to control the knee movement is compromised, leading to exaggerated flexion during terminal stance.
The quadriceps, comprised of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius muscles, function synergistically to extend the knee. In a normal gait, these muscles eccentrically contract to control knee flexion during the terminal stance.
However, if there is a deficit in their strength or coordination, the knee may undergo excessive flexion due to inadequate control. This deviation from the normal biomechanics can result in various gait abnormalities and may contribute to issues such as knee pain, instability, or altered walking patterns.
Rehabilitation strategies for exaggerated knee flexion at terminal stance often involve targeted exercises to strengthen the quadriceps, improve neuromuscular control, and address any underlying factors contributing to muscle weakness. Physical therapy interventions may include progressive resistance training, proprioceptive exercises, and gait retraining to restore optimal function and mitigate the exaggerated knee flexion during the terminal stance phase of the gait cycle.