Irregular Gait

What is Gait?

Gait is the medical term used for the pattern of walking. Irregular gait is the term for when an individual is having a challenging time walking normally.

What causes an Irregular Gait?

Irregular gait can be caused by a variety of things. Gait can be altered due to pain, functional limitations, or a muscle imbalance. If one has an injury, pain, or discomfort; gait can become irregular to avoid using certain muscles or applying pressure in particular manner. This can be a conscious effort or a subconscious reaction of the nervous system to protect the affected area.

Woman walking for exercise, when walking gait is important. JOI Rehab Woman Walking for Exercise

Functional limitations that cause irregular gait can also be a result of the natural structure of one’s body position. Terms such as “bow legged”, “pigeon toed”, or “knock knee” are examples of the functional limitations which can cause an irregular gait pattern, and overtime, these functional limitations can lead to the development of muscle imbalances. The resulting muscle weakness or tightness that is caused by these imbalances can be corrected with Physical Therapy.

Surgery to Correct Gait

In a case where a patient will have to undergo surgery, consideration is given to the likelihood that the muscle will atrophy. Atrophy is the term used for muscles “wasting away” due to lack of usage. With muscle atrophy, gait can be altered due to a specific muscle not keeping up with the opposite limb. For example, after any knee surgery, the quad muscle will start to atrophy, which leads to irregularities in gait pattern for a few reasons ranging from limited range of motion to quad weakness, and without a strong quad, one cannot fully extend their knee actively, which in return hinders their gait pattern. The failure to address these deficits can lead to long-term negative effects to the patient.

What does Irregular Gait Affect?

Irregular gait can affect a handful of things in the body. If a patient is limping due to pain/injury then another body part or muscle will compensate for the one in pain. This can offset the whole body which could lead to further widespread issues. This is because the body is considered to be a chain, so if pain stems from the bottom of a patient’s foot, it may lead them to start walking on the outside of their foot. This causes lengthening and more stress on the peroneal muscles and eventually force the knee to move in an unnatural pattern. In return, the muscles of the thigh might not be functioning correctly which could then have an effect on the hips or back. Often times, the injury starts in an area and progresses into something else.

What if my Gait is Irregular?

If someone is experiencing irregular gait, they should seek medical attention. A Doctor, Physical Therapist, or Athletic Trainer can aid in finding the underlying condition and provide an appropriate treatment plan. When looking at proper gait, there are different phases which a medical professional can assess. Each phase of the walking stages can be broken down to find where the specific issue lies. When working with a Physical Therapist, muscle weakness and imbalances can be addressed throughout the entire body in order to help solve the problem.

Being bow legged is a common cause for an irregular gait. JOI Rehab Person with Bow Legged Gait

If irregular gait is not addressed, then over time it becomes the new normal. The more one prolongs treatment, the more challenging it will be to shift their muscle memory back into doing what is correct. If irregular gait is left untreated, it makes one more susceptible to injury risk, muscle weakness, chances of falling, or losing the ability to walk. Treatment options may be physical therapy, medication, or surgery depending on severity.

Related Articles:

Book an Appointment with The Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute Today!

JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.

New to JOI, you can now schedule your follow up appointments and cancel appointments on the JOI Portal.

To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.