A patient with a 5° plantar flexion contracture is MOST likely to demonstrate which gait deviation?

• A. Knee buckling during midstance
• B. Early heel rise
• C. Foot slap
• D. Contralateral pelvic drop

Answer: (B)

A plantarflexion contracture limits ankle dorsiflexion during stance, so the foot can’t progress over the ground normally. As the body moves forward, the tibia needs to dorsiflex and the foot to flatten on the ground. With limited dorsiflexion from the contracture, the heel tends to lift off earlier than usual to allow forward progression, resulting in an early heel rise.

Knee buckling, foot slap, and contralateral pelvic drop are driven by issues in other joints or muscles (knee extensor control, dorsiflexor strength at initial contact, or hip abductor strength), not primarily by ankle plantarflexion range.