Gait Disorders

Abstract

Identifying a gait disorder is one of the most challenging problems in clinical neurology. Examining natural gait, performing provocative maneuvers, and thorough examination of the components of the nervous system are required to make a diagnosis. Patterns of gait abnormalities include frontal, spastic, extrapyramidal, ataxic, waddling, steppage, antalgic, and psychogenic. Many patients cannot be diagnosed with a single gait disorder, and the term “multifactioral gait disorder” is appropriate. When possible, underlying disorders should be treated, but many patients do not have a single treatable condition and require adaptive training and assistive devices.