Reciprocating gait in THKAFOs uses what arrangement to move limbs?

• A. A hydraulic system
• B. A motor-driven chain
• C. An all-plastic molded frame only
• D. Hips connected by steel cables enabling reciprocal gait (4- or 2-point)

Answer: (D)

Reciprocating gait in THKAFOs is produced by a linkage between the hips, using steel cables. When one hip moves to advance a leg, the cable system pulls the opposite hip in the opposite direction, creating a coordinated reciprocal stepping pattern. This setup allows either 4-point or 2-point gait, depending on the specific linkage design. The other options don’t provide this automatic opposite-leg motion: a hydraulic system isn’t the standard mechanism here, a motor-driven chain would imply powered actuation, and an all-plastic molded frame alone lacks the necessary hip-to-hip linkage to create reciprocal movement.