What are gait disorders?
Gait disturbances are alterations in gait, usually due to spinal cord, brain, leg or foot injuries or pathologies. They can affect the reduction of gait speed and the loss of regularity, symmetry or synchrony of body movements.
Since many organs are involved in gait, there are several types of gait disturbances that cause abnormal gait. Among the most frequent are:
- Parkinsonian gait, characterized by a stiff, trunk-tilted gait, including rapid but short steps;
- Hemiplegic gait, usually caused by a brain injury or stroke that causes the patient to walk with one leg and trunk bent to one side;
- Myopathic gait, a swaying gait due to disorders in the pelvic area;
- Antalgic claudicant gait: when it causes pain in a limb.
- Ataxic gait: appears due to a lesion of the posterior cords.
- Steppage gait: when the distal muscles are affected and the leg is flexed and elevated to prevent toe dragging and stumbling.
- Sway gait: when there is paresis of the pelvic girdle muscles.
Prognosis of the disease
The prognosis of the disease will depend on each case.
Gait disturbances are gait disturbances.
Symptoms of gait disturbances
Gait disturbances may manifest themselves through falls which may involve hospitalization, morbidity and cost.
Medical tests for gait disturbances
To diagnose gait disturbances, an anamnesis test is carried out and a physical examination is performed, including semiological analysis of gait and associated neurological signs. To detect alterations, the following are taken into account:
- Central or peripheral motor deficits of the lower extremities.
- Balance disorders
- Pain
- Short stride gait
Complementary examinations, such as radiological and electrophysiological examinations, can also be performed.
What are the causes of gait disturbances?
Gait follows a repetitive cycle in which different structures of the central and peripheral nervous system are involved. This cycle can be affected by neurological diseases or musculoskeletal factors affecting gait and balance.
Can they be prevented?
There is no certain way to prevent gait disturbances.
Treatments for gait disturbances
The treatment of gait disturbances requires the participation of different specialists, such as the geriatrician, neurologist, occupational therapist, etc. The team will be in charge of promoting the correction of sensory alterations, compensation of chronic pathologies and an adequate prescription of drugs. In addition, technical assistance and surgical treatment may be necessary.
Which specialist treats it?
The specialist who treats gait disturbances is the neurologist.