Gait abnormality
Encyclopedia
Gait abnormality is a deviation from normal walking (gait
). Watching a patient walk is the most important part of the neurological examination. Normal gait requires that many systems, including strength, sensation and coordination, function in an integrated fashion. Many common problems in the nervous system
and musculoskeletal system
will show up in the way a person walks.
experience numbness and tingling in their hands and feet. This can cause ambulation impairment, such as trouble climbing stairs or maintaining balance
. Gait abnormality is also common in persons with nervous system affections such as Multiple sclerosis
, Parkinson's disease
, Alzheimer's disease
, Myasthenia gravis
, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
. Orthopedic corrective treatments may also manifest into gait abnormality, such as lower extremity amputation
, post-fracture
, and arthroplasty
(joint replacement
). Difficulty in ambulation that results from chemotherapy
is generally temporary in nature, though recovery times of six months to a year are common. Likewise, difficulty in walking due to arthritis
or joint pains (antalgic gait) sometimes resolves spontaneously once the pain is gone.
Gait (human)
Human gait is the way locomotion is achieved using human limbs. Different gaits are characterized by differences in limb movement patterns, overall velocity, forces, kinetic and potential energy cycles, and changes in the contact with the surface .- Foot strike :One variable in different gaits is...
). Watching a patient walk is the most important part of the neurological examination. Normal gait requires that many systems, including strength, sensation and coordination, function in an integrated fashion. Many common problems in the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
and musculoskeletal system
Musculoskeletal system
A musculoskeletal system is an organ system that gives animals the ability to move using the muscular and skeletal systems...
will show up in the way a person walks.
Presentation and causes
Persons suffering from peripheral neuropathyPeripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is the term for damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which may be caused either by diseases of or trauma to the nerve or the side-effects of systemic illness....
experience numbness and tingling in their hands and feet. This can cause ambulation impairment, such as trouble climbing stairs or maintaining balance
Balance (ability)
In biomechanics, balance is an ability to maintain the center of gravity of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway. When exercising the ability to balance, one is said to be balancing....
. Gait abnormality is also common in persons with nervous system affections such as Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
, Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability...
, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease- , known also as Morbus Charcot-Marie-Tooth, Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy, hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy , hereditary sensorimotor neuropathy , or peroneal muscular atrophy, is an inherited disorder of nerves that takes different forms...
. Orthopedic corrective treatments may also manifest into gait abnormality, such as lower extremity amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
, post-fracture
Fracture
A fracture is the separation of an object or material into two, or more, pieces under the action of stress.The word fracture is often applied to bones of living creatures , or to crystals or crystalline materials, such as gemstones or metal...
, and arthroplasty
Arthroplasty
Arthroplasty is an operative procedure of orthopedic surgery performed, in which the arthritic or dysfunctional joint surface is replaced with something better or by remodeling or realigning the joint by osteotomy or some other procedure.-Background:Previously, a popular form of arthroplasty was...
(joint replacement
Joint replacement
Replacement arthroplasty [from Greek arthron, joint, limb, articulate, + -plassein, to form, mould, forge, feign, make an image of], or joint replacement surgery, is a procedure of orthopedic surgery in which the arthritic or dysfunctional joint surface is replaced with an orthopaedic prosthesis...
). Difficulty in ambulation that results from chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
is generally temporary in nature, though recovery times of six months to a year are common. Likewise, difficulty in walking due to arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
or joint pains (antalgic gait) sometimes resolves spontaneously once the pain is gone.
Types
- Scissor gaitScissor gaitScissor gait is a form of gait abnormality primarily associated with spastic cerebral palsy. It is associated with an upper motor neuron lesion.-Presentation:This gait pattern is reminiscent of a marionette...
- Antalgic gaitAntalgic gaitAntalgic gait is a form of gait abnormality where the stance phase of gait is abnormally shortened relative to the swing phase. It can be a good indication of pain with weight-bearing.-Conditions associated with an antalgic gait:* Coxalgia...
- Cerebellar ataxiaCerebellar ataxiaCerebellar ataxia is a form of ataxia originating in the cerebellum.-References:...
- Festinating gait
- Pigeon gait
- Propulsive gaitPropulsive gait-Conditions associated with a propulsive gait:* Carbon monoxide poisoning* Parkinson's disease* Manganese Toxicity-References:...
- Steppage gaitSteppage gaitSteppage gait is a form of gait abnormality that is associated with a loss of dorsiflexion.It can be caused by damage to the deep peroneal nerve.-Presentation:Toes point down...
- Stomping gaitStomping gait-Conditions associated with a stomping gait:* Friedreich's ataxia* Pernicious anemia* Tabes dorsalis* Peripheral neuropathy* Spinal cord disease* Multiple sclerosis-References:...
- Spastic gaitSpastic gaitSpastic gait is a form of gait abnormality.Among the treatment options is chemodenervation.-Conditions associated with a spastic gait:* Brain tumor* Brain abscess* Sturge-Weber syndrome* Cerebral palsy* Cerebrovascular accident* Multiple sclerosis...
- Myopathic gaitMyopathic gaitMyopathic gait is a form of gait abnormality.The "waddling" is due to the weakness of the proximal muscles of the pelvic girdle.The patient uses circumduction to compensate for gluteal weakness....
- Magnetic gaitMagnetic gait-Presentation:Feet seem attached to floor as if by a magnet. In magnetic gait, each step is initiated in a "wresting" motion carrying feet upward and forward. Magnetic gait can be visualized in terms of a powerful magnet being forcefully pulled from asteel plate....
- Trendelenburg gaitTrendelenburg gaitThe Trendelenburg gait pattern is an abnormal gait caused by weakness of the abductor muscles of the lower limb, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. People with a lesion of superior gluteal nerve have weakness of abducting the thigh at the hip...
- Waddling gait
- Freezing gait