Abnormal Gait

Definition

Affected area

Image

Steppage gait

Excessive flexion of hip and knee joints during the swing phase with toes clearing the ground

Weakness of dorsiflexor muscles of the ankle

Trendelenburg gait

Abnormal pelvis exhibiting a downward tilt toward the unaffected side during the swing phase

Weakness of

hip abductor muscles

Circumduction gait

Excessive extension in the knee and locking at the end

of the stance phase

Lack of knee flexion or length discrepancy

Short-limb gait

Flexed knee in the longer limb or dorsiflexed foot in the shorter limb equalizing the limbs

Length discrepancy

Hand-to-thigh gait

Pushing the thigh

backward manually to stabilize the knee

Weakness of quadriceps and fixed knee flexion

Equinus gait

Walking on the toes painlessly

Weakness of the ankle dorsiflexors, Achilles tendon tightness