Gaits

Question 1

Hemiplegic gait

Answer 1

Arm held into chest and wrist flexed and leg is straight and to walk is swung around due to flexion hypertonia in upper and extension hypertonia in lower limb and distal weakness in lower limb means you have to round your leg

Question 2

Parkinsons gait

Answer 2

Universal flexion, small steps, and maybe associated tremor

Question 3

Cerebellar or ataxic gait

Answer 3

Broad stance, wide staggering, will fall towards side of cerebellar illness, and titubation (trunk swaying when standing straight)

Question 4

Rombergs test is for?

Answer 4

Proprioception - blocks out vision

Question 5

Stamping gait - proprioceptive problem

Answer 5

Slamming feet and is worse in dark

Question 6

Cerebral palsy gait

Answer 6

AKA diplegic gait - Extensor spasm so walk on tiptoe, some circumduction but feet very close together because abductor spasms and arms flexed

Question 7

Myopathic gait in pelvic girdle

Answer 7

Waddling gait leading away from side with weakness

Question 8

Neuropathic gait e.g. foot drop

Answer 8

High stepping gait aka equine gait, can’t flex foot properly

Question 9

High stepping gait

Answer 9

LMN lesions which also cause foot drop.
Bilateral causes: cauda equina, peripheral neuropathy and poly neuropathies e.g. Guillan Barre or Charcot-Marie-tooth,
Unilateraly causes: L5 root radiculop[athy, neuropathy of sciatic nerve, common perineal nerve or polio at anterior horn

Question 10

Spastic and circumducting gait

Answer 10

tumour, MS or SOL usually accompanying UMN signs

Question 11

Broad bases ataxic gait

Answer 11

Ataxia due to vestibular, cerebellar or sensory causes - may be hypotonia or intention tremor

Question 12

Spastic and scissoring gait

Answer 12

cord lesions due to trauma/compression/syringomelia/transverse myelitis,
OR bihemispheric brain lesions due to cerebral palsy or MS