An analysis of how someone walks. A variety of problems can cause an abnormal gait (or walk) and lead to problems with walking. These include:
- Injuries, diseases, or abnormal development of the muscles or bones of your legs or feet
- Movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease
- Diseases such as arthritis or multiple sclerosis
- Vision or balance problems
Walking abnormalities are unusual and uncontrollable walking patterns. They are usually due to diseases or injuries to the legs, feet, brain, spinal cord, or inner ear. Some common abnormal gates include:
- Propulsive gait: a stooped, stiff posture with the head and neck bent forward
- Scissors gait: legs flexed slightly at the hips and knees like crouching, with the knees and thighs hitting or crossing in a scissors-like movement
- Spastic gait: a stiff, foot-dragging walk caused by a long muscle contraction on one side
- Steppage gait: foot drop where the foot hangs with the toes pointing down, causing the toes to scrape the ground while walking, requiring someone to lift the leg higher than normal when walking
- Waddling gait: a duck-like walk that may appear in childhood or later in life
Abnormal gait may be caused by diseases in different areas of the body. General causes of abnormal gait may include:
- Arthritis of the leg or foot joints
- Conversion disorder (a psychological disorder)
- Foot problems (such as a callus, corn, ingrown toenail, wart, pain, skin sore, swelling, or spasms)
- Fracture
- Injections into muscles that causes soreness in the leg or buttocks
- Infection
- Injury
- Legs that are of different lengths
- Myositis
- Shin splints
- Shoe problems
- Tendonitis
- Torsion of the testis
Treatment of walking problems depends on the cause. Physical therapy, surgery, or mobility aids may help.
