Gait Flashcards
What is Parkinson gait, and where does it localize to within the neurological axis?
In patients with Parkinson disease, a gait marked by short step with the feet barely clearing the floor in a shuffling and scraping manner. As the steps continue, they may become successively more rapid. The posture is marked by flexion of the upper body with the spine bent forward, head down, and arms, elbows, hips and knees bent.
Parkinson gait localizes to the extrapyramidal system, ie, the basal ganglia.
What is spastic gait, and where does it localize to along the neurological axis?
Spastic gait is characterized by a stiff movement of the legs while walking, usually the result of an upper motor neuron lesion and spasticity in the muscles of the lower extremities.
Spasticity in the hip adductors results in a scissoring or crossing of the legs.
If the upper extremities are involved, the arms do not swing rhythmically but are usually held still with the elbows and wrists flexed.
Spastic gait localizes to the cortiocospinal tracts.
What is ataxic gait, and where does it localize to within the neurological axis?
Ataxic gait is an unsteady, staggering gait pattern. If related to cerebella’s pathology, the gait is unsteady, irregular, and generally characterized by use of a wide base support. The deviation is equally severe if the individual walks with eyes open or closed. If the cerebella’s lesion is localized to one hemisphere, the individual will sway toward the affected side.
Ataxic gait patterns related to spinal ataxia are characterized by a wide base of support, with the feet thrown out. There is a characteristic double tapping sound, as the individual steps on heels first, then on toes. This gait pattern occurs in such conditions as tabes dorsal is and multiple sclerosis and is believed to result from the disruption of the sensory pathways in the central nervous system.
Ataxic gait localizes to the cerebellum.
What is stoppage gait, and where does it localize within the neurological axis?
Stoppage gait is characterized by the inability to life the foot while walking due to the weakness of muscles that cause dorsiflexion of the ankle joint.
Stoppage gait localizes to the nerve root (L5) or the a peripheral nerve (eg., perineal nerve).
What is a trendelenburg gait, and where does it localize along the neurological axis?
A trendelenberg gait is an abnormal gait resulting from a defective hip abductor mechanism. The primary musculature involved is the gluteal musculature, includes the gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus muscles. The weakness of these muscles causes drooping of the pelvis to the contralateral side while walking.
A trendelenburg gait localizes to muscles or L3-L4 nerve root disease.
What is an antalgic gait, and where does it localize to?
An antalgic gait is a gait in which the patients experience pain during the stance phase and thus remains on the painful leg for as short of time as possible.
An antalgic gait localizes to wherever the pain is coming from.
