Citation

Baker JM. Am. J. Med. 2018; 131(6): 602-607.

Affiliation

Fellow in Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Neurosciences Clinic, 1st Floor, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.11.051

PMID

29288631

Abstract

Walking is an extraordinarily complex task requiring integration of the entire nervous system, making gait susceptible to a variety of underlying neurological abnormalities. Gait disorders are particularly prevalent in the elderly and increase fall risk. In this review, we discuss an approach to the examination of gait, and highlight key features of common gait disorders and their underlying causes. We review gaits due to lesions of motor systems (spasticity and neuromuscular weakness), the cerebellum and sensory systems (ataxia), parkinsonism, and frontal lobes and discuss the remarkably diverse phenomenology of functional (psychogenic) gait disorders. We offer a pragmatic approach to the diagnosis and management and neurological gait disorders, as prompt recognition and intervention may improve quality of life in affected individuals.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

ataxia; foot drop; frontal gait; functional movement disorder; gait disorders; parkinsonism; spasticity