Gait types Flashcards
What is a hemiplegic gait / circumductory gait
Flexed adducted and internally rotated arm (may be held)
Drag affected leg in semicircle
What does a hemiplegic gait mean?
Weakness in distal muscles of leg ie foot drop
Hypertonia of hip and knee extensors
Have unilateral weakness on affected side
Common gait in stroke
What is a diplegic / spastic gait?
Have narrow base
Drag legs and scrape toes
May have scissor gait
What may a diplegic gait be a sign of
Spasticity that is worse in lower extremities
Scissor gait from tight adductors
If bilateral sign of periventricular lesion (cerebral palsy)
What is a neuropathic gait
Also known as steppage
Equine
Patient with foot drop attempting to lift leg high enough to lift above floor
What is a choreiform gait
Patient has irregular, jerky, involuntary movements in all extremities
seen in certain basal ganglia disorders
What is a myopathic gait?
Also known as waddling or Trendelenburg gait
Drop in pelvis opposite of weak side
If bilateral weakness leads to waddling
Seen in myopathies such as muscular dystrophy
What is an ataxic gait
Standing still patient body may swagger back and forth
Patient won’t be able to walk from heel to toe or in a straight line
- similar to being drunk
- sign of cerebellar disease
What is a festinant gait / parkinsonian / propulsive gait?
Stooped head and neck forward
Flexed knees
Upper extremities flexed with finger extension
Small shuffling steps - can be involuntary
What is a sensory gait
When loss of feeling and proprioceptive input
Patient slams foot into floor.
Worse when patient can’t see own foot.
Dorsal column disorder and peripheral diseases.
What is an antalgic gait
Also known as limp, avoiding pain when walking
Form of gait abnormality where stance phase of gait is abnormally shortened relative to swing phase.
