We typically don’t pay much attention to our stride pattern, also known as our gait, but an inefficient or dysfunctional gait can lead to a host of issues in areas like your feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine. It’s also important to realize that gait dysfunctions don’t just develop as a result of an acute injury, as genetic issues and the natural aging process can both lead to minor or major changes to our gait. If you’re noticing that you’re walking with a limp or simply not feeling natural when walking, consider connecting with a physical therapy team. In today’s blog, we explore how physical therapy can help you overcome common gait dysfunctions.
Common Gait Dysfunctions
Before we dive into how physical therapy can help correct gait dysfunctions, let’s explore some of the common types of gait dysfunctions so you can learn to spot a potential gait issue in yourself or a loved one like an aging parent.
- Antalgic – An antalgic gait dysfunction occurs when someone places weight on a painful leg, which often results in limping and slow/short steps as the individual tries to quickly take stress off the sore leg.
- Ataxic – Ataxic gaits describe someone with inconsistent or irregular foot placement, sometimes seen in patients following a stroke or in those with sensory/nervous system disorders.
- Parkinsonian – This type of gait disorder is typically seen in patients with Parkinson disease, and it often results in short, shuffled steps.
- Slow – A very slow gait is typically the result of age-related issues, fear of falling or a general unsteadiness on their feet.
- Steppage – Individuals with a foot drop disorder may develop a steppage gait issue, which requires the person to lift their affected leg higher off the ground so their toes clear the ground when walking. It tends to affect patients with nerve issues or in the wake of a stroke.
- Vestibular Unsteadiness – People suffering from vertigo or other inner ear disorders may develop a laterally unsteady walking pattern, also known as vestibular unsteadiness.
- Waddling – Waddling describes a gait where the individual sways side to side as they walk, sometimes walking on their toes. Can arise due to muscular diseases or muscle weakness.
These are just some of the gait issues we work to help treat and correct, and if you notice that you or a loved one may be walking with a dysfunctional gait, consider having them connect with the team at OrthoRehab Specialists.
Treating Gait Dysfunction Through PT
Gait dysfunction can oftentimes be significantly improved with the help of a physical therapist, but because there are a number of different gait dysfunctions and underlying issues, it’s imperative that your PT really works to understand what you’re dealing with. That begins by talking with the patient about their symptoms and any previous medical exams they’ve had, and it continues with an observation and exam period. We’ll watch how you walk and may even use different motion capture devices to provide more insight than can be seen by the naked eye.
From there, your physical therapist will begin charting a course for improvement based on your underlying issue and functional goals. Some common treatments they’ll put you through in the clinic and recommend for home-based PT include:
- Gait training exercises
- Targeted muscle strengthening
- Posture improvements to provide nerve compression relief
- Balance and coordination exercises
- Neuromuscular retraining
- Endurance-based exercises to address movement fatigue
- Manual therapy to counter inner ear disorders
It’s important to remember that a gait issue likely didn’t develop overnight, and it’s unlikely to resolve with just one physical therapy session either. With that said, physical therapy tends to be the most effective method for improving or correcting gait disorders when pursued regularly over the course of a number of weeks. Doing in-clinic and home-based exercises a couple times a week can have a monumental effect on your gait, your fall risk, your independence and your overall quality of life. It’s one of the simplest things you can do to protect against a potentially devastating fall while also ensuring you can continue to maintain your independence and a high quality of life.
To learn more about some of the specific exercises we typically recommend for different gait disorders, or to talk with a physical therapist about a gait issue you’re experiencing, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.