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Published on: 5/26/2025

What are the common causes of sudden inability to walk in the elderly?

Sudden inability to walk in older adults can be caused by events like a stroke, a fall with injury, or worsening balance problems. These events may happen quickly and need fast medical attention.

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Explanation

There are many reasons why an elderly person might suddenly not be able to walk. One common cause is a stroke, which happens when blood flow to a part of the brain is disrupted. This can make one side of the body weak or numb and make it hard to walk. Another cause is a fall. When an older patient falls, they may injur their leg or pelvis and this makes walking painful or impossible. Balance disorders are also important; as people get older, their inner sense of balance can get worse, and a small change can lead to a big loss of balance. In any of these cases, it is very important to see a doctor emergently to find out why the problem happened and to start treatment. Fast care can help improve recovery.

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