Abnormal walking patterns, or gait abnormalities, can be caused by various medical issues and are classified by the type of movement involved. Propulsive gait is a Parkinsonian walk with small steps and rigid body, while a scissors gait involves legs crossing and dragging. Stepping is when a person cannot judge foot placement, and a waddling gait is duck-like. Ataxic gait involves a wide stance and rocking and can be caused by brain injury, stroke, or medication side effects.
Most healthy people walk in ways that are perceived as normal. When a person moves their legs abnormally, with or without other unusual postures, a gait abnormality may be present. The definitions of the various groupings of gait abnormalities can vary according to the medical authority providing the descriptions, but the abnormality is usually classified according to the movement involved. Many different medical issues can cause problems walking, which can range from arthritis to nerve damage.
Propulsive gait is an abnormal way of walking and this type is defined by a person who walks with their head tilted down and holding the rest of their body rigidly. Another way to refer to this type of walking is parkinsonian; additional signs include a propensity to take small steps and quicken the pace the more steps are taken. Also, the person does not move their arms in a smooth swinging motion as usual. In addition to Parkinson’s disease, this type of walking can result from some types of poisoning or as a temporary side effect of some medications.
A scissors gait abnormality is a walk that involves the knees and legs accidentally crossing each other as the person walks. Injuries to the brain or spinal cord can produce this type of gait, as can stroke or multiple sclerosis. A scissor gait can also be an example of a spastic gait, which includes walking that affects one or both legs. Typically, a spastic gait means that the person tends to drag one foot across the floor instead of taking regular steps.
Stepping occurs when a person is unable to correctly judge when their raised foot is about to hit the floor, causing a loud stepping noise. An alternative name for this type of walking is slap gait, from the sound of footsteps. Causes include Guillain-Barre syndrome, polio and spinal problems.
In waddling gait abnormality, the feet are wider than normal and the person has a duck-like gait. In addition to developmental problems with the hips from birth, a person may have this gait due to problems with the muscles. A larger group of gait abnormalities, called ataxic gait, contain those patterns of walking that may be similar to the way a person walks when intoxicated. This involves using a wide stance and rocking the body from side to side. Possible causes include injury to the brain, stroke, or as a side effect of medications to treat seizures.
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