Final answer:
During gait, muscles at the ankle, knee, and hip joints perform concentric contractions. The gastrocnemius, soleus, quadriceps, and hip extensors generate force at various phases of the walk cycle, aiding in movements like plantarflexion, knee extension, and hip extension.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gait and Concentric Contractions
During a gait cycle, which is the series of movements involved in walking, different muscles act on joints through concentric and eccentric contractions to generate movement. Concentric contractions occur when a muscle shortens while generating force. During gait, muscles around various joints perform concentric contractions at different phases.
- Ankle: The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, which form the calf, perform a concentric contraction to push the body forward during the toe-off phase of gait, contributing to ankle plantarflexion. The gastrocnemius is the largest muscle in the lower leg, answering the query about the largest muscle in that area.
- Knee: Muscles such as the quadriceps are involved in extending the knee from a flexed position during gait, using concentric contraction.
- Hip: The concentric contraction of the hip extensor muscles, including the gluteus maximus, aids in propelling the body forward during the hip extension phase of gait.
- Subtalar: Although the subtalar joint is important for inversion and eversion of the foot to maintain balance and adapt to various surfaces, its role in generating propulsive force during the gait with the concentric contraction of muscles may not be as prominent as the above-mentioned joints.