What is Gait ??
The manner or style of walking is called gait.Normal gait requires strength,balance,sensation and coordination.Their is always a slight variation in everyone’s pattern of gait.Human gait is phasic forward propulsion of the centre of gravity of the human body.
Abnormal Gait
Problem with neuromuscular system may lead to abnormal gait.
Like disease/dysfunction in eyes,ears,brain,muscles,sensory system will cause disturbances in normal gait.
Types of Abnormal Gait-
•Hemiplegic Gait-
Seen typically in patient with stroke.The leg on affected side is extended and internally rotated and is swung in a wide arc rather than lifted to walk.
This type of gait leads to difficulties in foot clearance during swing,stability during stance, and maintaining energy efficienct gait patterns.Foot clearance and stability issues can lead to fall risk.
•Spastic Gait-
Way of walking in which one leg is stiff and drags in a semicircular motion on the side most affected by long term muscle contraction.It is commonly seen in patient’s with cerebral palsy.
•Ataxic / Drunken Gait-
A foot dragging walk caused by a long muscle contraction on one side common in people with nerve damage from conditions such as polio,multiple sclerosis.This type of gait is also drunken gait because it is seen in people who drink alcohol which causes damage to cerebellum.
•Festinating Gait-
This is commonly seen in patient of parkinsonism and other diseases which affects the basal ganglia.
In this patient involuntarily moves with short,accelerating steps,often on top of toe,with the trunk bent forwards and the legs flexed stiffly at the knees and hips.
•Waddling Gait-
Waddle means to walk like duck.
In this exaggerated alteration of lateral trunk movements with an exaggerated elevation of the hip occurs,suggesting the gait of duck.This type of gait is characteristically seen in muscular dystrophy.
It may also be seen in patient’s of Thyrotoxicosis,DM,Myopathy,people who are taking steroids from long time. And even seen in pregnant ladies which is completely physiological so no need to worry.
•Slapping Gait-
It occurs due to any sensory system disease.So to diagnose it we can simply perform Romberg test for spinal cord disease.
In this type of gait heel doesn’t hit the floor test and it seems like patient is walking by slapping the floor with his legs.
Contributor– Medico Anant Singh Nanda
