How Are Abnormal Gait Patterns Identified and Classified?

Reviewed by Tomas Diaz, MD

Emergency Medicine

Doctors identify abnormal gait patterns by observing how a person walks and using specialized tools to measure movement. They then classify these patterns into distinct types based on specific movement characteristics and underlying medical conditions.

Explanation

Medical professionals begin by observing a person's walking pattern, studying their steps and body movements. They may supplement these observations with specialized equipment—cameras, sensors, and computer software—to measure specific aspects like step length, speed, and joint angles. They document characteristics including uneven weight distribution, reduced step length, and irregular knee and hip movements. By comparing these features to established patterns, clinicians can identify specific gait types, including "shuffling," "Parkinsonian," and "ataxic," among others. Based on this classification, doctors can identify underlying causes and create targeted treatment and therapy plans.

(References)

Sienko Thomas S, Buckon CE, Nicorici A, Bagley A, McDonald CM, Sussman MD. Classification of the gait patterns of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and their relationship to function. J Child Neurol. 2010 Sep;25(9):1103-9. doi: 10.1177/0883073810371002. Epub 2010 Jun 29. PMID: 20587736; PMCID: PMC3794706.
Kyeong S, Kim SM, Jung S, Kim DH. Gait pattern analysis and clinical subgroup identification: a retrospective observational study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Apr;99(15):e19555. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019555. PMID: 32282704; PMCID: PMC7440325.
Tsitlakidis S, Horsch A, Schaefer F, Westhauser F, Goetze M, Hagmann S, Klotz MCM. Gait Classification in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. J Clin Med. 2019 Oct 11;8(10):1652. doi: 10.3390/jcm8101652. PMID: 31614496; PMCID: PMC6832635.

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