PATHOLOGICAL GAIT

FUNCTIONAL
 Antalgic (Painful) Gait
 Gluteus Maximus Gait
 Gluteus Medius (Trendelenburg's) Gait
 Hemiplegic or Hemiparetic Gait

 Parkinsonian Gait
 Scissors Gait
 Equinus Gait
 Ataxic Gait
 Quadriceps Gait (hand to knee gait)
 Steppage or Drop Foot Gait
 ANTALGIC GAIT
 Self-protective
 The stance phase on the affected leg
is shorter than that on the non-
affected leg
 The swing phase of the uninvolved
leg is decreased.
 The result is a shorter step length on
the uninvolved side, decreased
walking velocity, and decreased
cadence.
 The painful region is often supported
by one hand
 GLUTEUS MAXIMUS GAIT
 Gluteus maximus muscle is a primary
hip extensor.
 Patient thrusts the thorax poste-
riorly at initial contact (heel strike) to
maintain hip extension of the stance
leg.
 The resulting gait involves a
characteristic backward lurch of the
trunk
 GLUTEUS MEDIUS GAIT
 If the hip abductor muscles (gluteus
medius and minimus) are weak, the
stabilizing effect of these muscles
during stance phase is lost
 Trendelenburg's sign - the
contralateral side droops because the
ipsilateral hip abductors do not
stabilize or prevent the droop).
 If there is bilateral weakness of the
gluteus medius muscles, the gait
shows accentuated side-to- side
movement, resulting in a "wobbling"
gait or "chorus girl swing."
 QUADRICEPS GAIT
 Also called as hand to knee gait
 Weakness of quadriceps
 Forward flexion of the trunk
combined with strong ankle plantar
flexion causes the knee to extend
 The patient may use a hand to
extend the knee
 DROP FOOT GAIT
 weak or paralyzed dorsiflexor
muscles
 To compensate and avoid dragging
the toes against the ground, the
patient lifts the knee higher than
normal
 At initial contact the foot slaps on the
ground
 HEMIPLEGIC GAIT
 The patient with hemiplegic or
herniparetic gait swings the
paraplegic leg outward and ahead in
a circle (cir- cumduction) or pushes it
ahead
 In addition, the affected upper limb
is carried across the trunk for
balance.
 PARKINSONIAN GAIT
 The neck, trunk, and knees of a
patient with parkinso- nian gait are
flexed.
 The gait is characterized by shuf-
fling or short rapid steps
 During the gait, the patient may lean
forward and walk progressively faster
as though unable to stop (festination)
 SCISSORS GAIT
 result of spastic paralysis of the hip
adductor muscles
 the knees to be drawn together so
that the legs can be swung forward
only with great effort
 This is seen in spastic paraplegics
and may be referred to as a
neurogenic or spastic gait.
 EQUINUS GAIT
 also called as toe walking
 Plantaflexors are tight not allowing
the heel to touch the ground.
 Commonly seen in spastic diplegic
 ATAXIC GAIT
 If the patient has poor sensation or
lacks muscle coordination, there is a
tendency toward poor balance and a
broad base
 The gait of a person with cerebellar
ataxia includes a lurch or stagger,
and all movements are exaggerated
 The patient also watches the feet
while walking. The resulting gait is
irregular, jerky, and weaving.
STRUCTURAL
 Leg length discrepancy
 Contractures of hip, knee or ankle
 Congenital knock knees or bow legs