Walking/Gait Abnormalities

The pattern of how a person walks is called the gait. Many different types of gait abnormalities are produced unconsciously. Most, but not all, are due to some physical malfunction.

Some gait abnormalities are so characteristic that they have been given descriptive names:

propulsive gait: characterized by a stooped, rigid posture, with the head and neck bent forward
scissors gait: characterized by legs flexed slightly at the hips and knees, giving the appearance of crouching, with the knees and thighs hitting or crossing in a scissors-like movement
spastic gait: characterized by a stiff, foot-dragging walk caused by one-sided, long-term, muscle contraction
steppage gait: characterized by foot drop where the foot hangs with the toes pointing down, causing the toes to scrape the ground while walking
waddling gait: characterized by a distinctive duck-like walk that may appear in childhood or later in life

Abnormal gait may be caused by disease in many different areas of the body. Typical groupings might consist of:

vestibular: the inner ear is responsible for maintaining balance; damage results in vertigo
central nervous system: diseases of the brain that cause muscular problems resulting in gait disturbance such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy
spinal cord abnormalities: disease, trauma, degeneration) peripheral nerve diseases (nerves from the spinal cord to the muscles may be damaged by disease or trauma and result in gait abnormalities
degenerative muscle diseases: muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, myositis
skeletal abnormalities and disease:
arthritis:
skin conditions: plantar warts, bunions, ingrown toenails, ulcers
toxic reactions: alcohol, drugs, toxins

Common causes

Abnormal Gait in General

trauma
foot problems (such as a callus, corn, ingrown toenail, wart, pain, skin ulcer, swelling, spasms)
chondromalacia patellae
fracture
hemophilia
immunization (soreness in the leg or buttocks)
legs that are different lengths
myositis
tight or uncomfortable shoes
shin splints
infection
tendinitis
torsion of the testis
conversion disorder (a psychological disorder)

Causes of Specific Gaits

Propulsive gait:

carbon monoxide poisoning
manganese poisoning
Parkinson's disease drugs including phenothiazines, haloperidol, thiothixene, loxapine, metoclopramide, and metyrosine (usually drug effects are temporary)

Scissors gait:

cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
cervical spondylosis with myelopathy (a problem with the vertebrae in the neck)
liver failure (hepatic failure)
multiple sclerosis
pernicious anemia
spinal cord trauma
spinal cord tumor
syphilitic meningomyelitis
syringomyelia

Spastic gait:

brain abscess
brain tumor
cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
head trauma
multiple sclerosis

Steppage gait:

Guillain-Barre syndrome
herniated lumbar disk
multiple sclerosis
peroneal muscle atrophy
peroneal nerve trauma
poliomyelitis
polyneuropathy
spinal cord trauma

Waddling gait:

congenital hip dysplasia
muscular dystrophy
spinal muscle atrophy

Note: There may be other causes of gait abnormalities. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints.