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Learn About Medical Conditions
Gait or Walking Abnormalities
Walking abnormalities are unusual and uncontrollable walk patterns, usually caused by diseases or injuries to the legs, feet, brain, spine, or inner ear.
The pattern of how a person walks is called their gait. Many different types of walking abnormalities are produced unconsciously. Most, but not all, are due to some physical condition.
What treatments are available?
Treatment of the cause often improves the gait. For example, gait abnormalities from trauma to part of the leg will improve as the leg heals.
Chronic pain can cause an abnormal gait; deteriorated hip or knee joints are common causes. Aquatic therapy takes the load off of the joints and may help delay the need for surgery. Replacement surgery can reduce or eliminate the source of the pain. Sometimes the gait you “learned” to avoid pain has to be unlearned. Physical therapy is often used to build the strength, endurance and flexibility needed to return to a more normal gait. Gait training is also used to minimize risk of falling for people who have a stroke or Parkinson’s Disease. Balance disorders may also call for gait training. Understanding the cause, then learning compensatory strategies are both part of a balance rehabilitation program.
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health