Gait Disorders

Question 1

Unilateral or bilateral. stiff legged circumduction, sometimes with sissoring of legs and toe-walking, decreased arm swing, unsteady falling towards one side

Answer 1

Spastic gait - unilateral or bilateral corticospinal tracrts

Question 2

wide based, unsteady staggering side to side, falling toward one side of worse path deficits in heel to toe fait testing

Answer 2

Ataxic Gait - cerebellar vermis or midline cerebellar structures

Question 3

wide based, unsteady, pts sway and fall when attempting to stand with feet together and eyes closed ROMBERG SIGN

Answer 3

vertiginous gait– vestibular nuclei, vestibular nerve, semicircular canals

Question 4

slow, shuffling, narrow or wide based, “magnetic” can perform cycling movements on their back better than they can walk – gait aparaxia

Answer 4

frontal gait– frontal lobes or frontal subcortical white matter

Question 5

slow shuggling narrow based Difficulty initiating walking. Often stooped forward w/ decreased arm swing and en bloc turning. unsteady with retropulsion (taking several rapid steps to regain balance when pushed backwards

Answer 5

parkingsonian gait – substantia nigra or other regions of basal ganglia

Question 6

unilateral or bilateral dance like (choreic), flinging (ballistic), or writhing (athetoid) movements occuring during walking

Answer 6

dyskinetic gait- subthalamic nucleus or other regions of basal ganglia

Question 7

High stepping foot flapping gait. difficulty walking in the dark or uneven surfaces. Pt swag and falls in attempts to stay w/ feet together and eyes closed

Answer 7

Tabetic gait– posterior columns or sensory nerve fibers

Question 8

Appearnce depends on location of lesion. proximal hip weakness, waddling. Trendelenburg gait. Severe thigh weakness. foot drop causing high stepping and slapping gait and frequent tripping

Answer 8

paretic gait- nerve roots, peripheral nerves, neuromusclular junction or muscles

Question 9

Pt avoids putting pressure on affected limb bc of pain

Answer 9

Antalgic gait– peripheral nerve or orthopedic injury

Question 10

peripheral nuerve injury or spinal cord-related deficits, depends on nature and location of disorder

Answer 10

orthopedic gait disorder- bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles

Question 11

poor balance but spontaneously perform highly destablilzing swaying movements w/o falling

Answer 11

functional gait disorder - psychologically based