Gait problems

Question 1

Spastic gait:

• Define
• What type of lesion does this show?

Answer 1

Stiff, circumduction of legs +/- scuffing of the toe

UMN lesions

Question 2

Extrapyramidal gait:

• Define
• What type of lesion does this show?

Answer 2

Flexed posture
Shuffling feet
Slow to start
Postural instability

Parkinson’s Disease

Question 3

Apraxic gait:

• Define
• What distinctive thing does the patient complain of?
• What type of lesion does this show?

Answer 3

‘Gluing to the floor’ on attempting walking or a wide based unsteady gait.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Multi-infarct states

Question 4

Ataxic gait:

• Define
• What are patients unable to do?
• What type of lesion does this show? - 2

Answer 4

Wide based
Falls
Cannot walk heel-to-toe

Cereballar lesions - MS, alcohol etc.

Proprioceptive sensory loss (e.g. sensory neuropathy, b12 deficiency).

Question 5

Myopathic gait:

• What is the gait like?
• What can they not do?

Answer 5

Waddling gait

Cannot climb stairs or stand from sitting due to hip girdle weakness