During gait, where do most gross motions occur?

The correct answer highlights that during gait, most gross motions occur in the frontal plane. This plane is crucial for lateral movements, which are essential for maintaining balance and stability while walking. In gait, actions such as the lateral shift of the pelvis or the abduction and adduction of the legs primarily happen in this plane, allowing the body to adapt to uneven surfaces and maintain posture.

Understanding the significance of the frontal plane during gait involves recognizing how it supports the body's ability to navigate different terrains and maintain equilibrium. For example, the side-to-side movement aids in weight shifting and helps in reducing any potential side-to-side instability as one foot lifts off the ground and swings forward.

When examining the other planes, while the sagittal plane is primarily involved in forward and backward movements, such as swing and stance phases of gait, it does not account for the lateral forces acted upon the body during locomotion. Similarly, the transverse plane involves rotational movements, which are less dominant in the overall gross motions of walking. The median plane, meanwhile, primarily divides the body into left and right sections, which is not a significant factor when examining gross motions during gait.