PMC - Gait abnormalities

Question 1

Ataxic gait
1) How can ataxic gate be described?
2) What are the 2 pathological causes/reasons for an ataxic gait?

Answer 1

1) Broad based, unsteady, awkward. Patients may struggle to walk in a straight line and have issues with balance
2) Sensory ataxia (further divided into issues with proprioception and vestibular problems) or cerebellar pathologies

Question 2

Parkinsonian gait
How would this appear?

Answer 2

Short, shuffling steps, with reduced arm swing that’s initially unilateral but then develops to become bilateral. Patient may also have a stooped posture and may require several small steps to turn around

Question 3

High-stepping gait
1) It can be unilateral or bilateral and is typically caused by what?
2) Which part of the LL peripheral nerve exam would a patient with this type of gait specifically struggle to do?

Answer 3

1) Ankle drop (weakness of ankle dorsiflexion)
2) Walk on their heels

Question 4

Waddling gait
1) How would it appear?
2) What is it typically caused by?

Answer 4

1) Shoulders would sway from side to side and the legs would be lifted with aid from tilting the trunk
2) Proximal lower limb weakness i.e. myopathy

Question 5

Hemiparetic gait
1) What does it typically look like?
2) What typically causes it?

Answer 5

1) 1 leg is held stiffly and swings around with each step
2) Stroke

Question 6

Spastic paraparesis
1) What does it typically look like?
2) What typically causes it?

Answer 6

1) Same as hemiparetic gait but both legs are impacted
2) Hereditary spastic paraplegia