ABNORMAL GAIT

PATTERNS
MSPT
Subject: Introduction to Physiotherapy
Presentation;
Submitted by: Sana Fatima
Submitted to : Doctor Chaman Lal.
*ABNORMAL GAIT
PATTERNS*
• Abnormal gait or a walking abnormality is when a
person is unable to walk in the usual way. This may
be due to injuries, underlying conditions, or
problems with the legs and feet.In some cases, gait
abnormalities may clear up on their own. In other
cases, an abnormal gait may be permanent. In
either case, physical therapy can help improve a
person’s gait and reduce any uncomfortable
symptoms.
Types of abnormal gaits
• Abnormal Gaits / Problems with Walking:
• 1. Antalgic Gait
• 2. Ataxic Gait
• 3. Arthrogenic Gait
• 4. Trendelenburg’s Gait
• 5. Lurching Gait
• 6. Parkinsonian Gait
• 7. Psoatic Limp Gait
• 8. Scissors Gait
• 9. Steppage Gait
• 10. Hemiplegic Gait
• 11.Spastic gait
 • An antalgic gait is a gait
1. Antalgic Gait that develops as a way to
avoid pain while walking
• (antalgic = anti- + alge,
“against pain”).
• painful (antalgic) gait
may occur if patient is
protecting an injury to
the foot, ankle, knee hips
or pelvis
 • Abnormal gait due to poor
sensation or lack of muscle
2. Ataxic Gait coordination
• Ataxia is a non-specific clinical
manifestation implying
dysfunction of the parts of the
nervous system that coordinate
movement, such as the
cerebellum.
• may be due to drinking alcohol
• patient’s gait / walk lacks
balance, may appear irregular,
jerky, weaving and staggering
3. Arthrogenic • stiff hip or knee or ankle
Gait due to stiffness, laxity or
deformity
• joint related pathologies
(examples of joint
pathologies are
osteoarthritis, hip joint
problems such as
avascular necrosis of the
femoral head, rheumatoid
arthritis, etc…
4.
Trendelenburg’s • This abnormal gait is due
Gait to gluteus medius
weakness or paralysis.
• trendelenburg’s sign
( hip popping out on the
weight bearing side) may
be seen
 • due to paralysis or
5. Lurching Gait weakness of the gluteus
maximus
• hand drops down, thorax
moves posteriorly on the
affected arm – patient
walks lurching .
 • Parkinsonian gait (or festinating
6. Parkinsonian gait, from Latin festinare [to
Gait hurry]) is the type of gait exhibited
by patients suffering from
Parkinson’s disease. This disorder
is caused by a deficiency of
dopamine in the basal ganglia
circuit leading to motor deficits.
Gait is one of the most affected
motor characteristics of this
disorder.
• short steps
• wide base of support (unstable
when walking)
7. Psoatic Limp • due to psoas muscle spasm,
and/ or edematous and/ or
Gait inflamed psoas bursa
• limitation of movement due to
pain & produce a atypical gait.
• causes flexion, adduction and
lateral (external) rotation of
the leg or hip, also knee in
slight flexion (positions seem
to relieve tension of the
muscle & hence relieve the
inflamed and tight structures)
 • one leg crosses in front of the
other – like walking on the
8. Scissors Gait catwalk
• due to spasticity in the thigh
adductors
• short/ tight adductors
• Scissor gait is a form of gait
abnormality primarily
associated with spastic cerebral
palsy. That condition and others
like it are associated with an
upper motor neuron lesion.
 • may see drop foot/ slap foot
during heel strike of the stance
9. Steppage Gait phase
• Steppage gait (High stepping,
Neuropathic gait) is a form of
gait abnormality characterised
by foot drop due to loss of
dorsiflexion. 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.
 • due to cerebrovascular disease /
10. Hemiplegic hemiplegia
Gait • partial (unilateral) weakness or
paralysis
• on the affected side you would see:
• internal rotation of the shoulders
• flexion of the elbow and wrist
• flexion and adduction of the hip
• flexion of the knee
• arm flexed, adducted and internally
rotated
• leg on same side is in extension with
plantar flexion of the foot and toes
11. Spastic gait • Contractures in the lower limb. Nerve or
due to joint pathology and deformities can cause
Contracture contractures (eg. polio, gastrocnemius
contracture, fixed knee flexion deformity,
osteophyte formation in the knee,
contractures from scars, burns etc.)
• prolonged immobilization can also cause
muscle contractures that affect walking
• example of contractures from prolonged
immobilizations are lack of activity and
prolonged sitting or wheelchair
ambulation after surgery. Contractures
may be prevented by avoiding over
tightening of the muscles and appropriate
postoperative positioning maintained.