| Gait abnormality | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Abnormalities of gait |
| Quadrupedalism in a Kurdish family | |
| Specialty | Neurology,orthopedics |
Gait abnormality is a deviation from normal walking (gait). Watching a patient walk is an 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 thenervous system andmusculoskeletal system will show up in the way a person walks.[1]
Patients withmusculoskeletal pain, weakness or limited range of motion often present conditions such asTrendelenburg's sign,limping,myopathic gait andantalgic gait.
Patients who haveperipheral neuropathy also experiencenumbness and tingling in their hands and feet. This can cause ambulation impairment, such as trouble climbing stairs or maintainingbalance. Gait abnormality is also common in persons with nervous system problems such ascauda equina syndrome,multiple sclerosis,Parkinson's disease (with characteristicParkinsonian gait),Alzheimer's disease,vitamin B12 deficiency,myasthenia gravis,normal pressure hydrocephalus, andCharcot–Marie–Tooth disease. Research has shown that neurological gait abnormalities are associated with an increased risk of falls in older adults.[2]
Orthopedic corrective treatments may also manifest into gait abnormality, such as lower extremityamputation, healedfractures, andarthroplasty (joint replacement). Difficulty in ambulation that results fromchemotherapy is generally temporary in nature, though recovery times of six months to a year are common. Likewise, difficulty in walking due toarthritis or joint pains (antalgic gait) sometimes resolves spontaneously once the pain is gone.[3][4]Hemiplegic persons have circumduction gait, where the affected limb moves through an arc away from the body, and those withcerebral palsy often havescissoring gait.[citation needed]
