| Abnormal gait | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Gait abnormality, 走路外八字 (Taiwanese Chinese), Penguin-like walking |
| Though not an amputee, this subject displays spatiotemporal step variability and slight rotation of the upper body and pelvis. | |
| Specialty | Orthopedics Neurology |
| Causes | Normal pressure hydrocephalus, Hydrocephalus, Parkinson's disease, Spinocerebellar Atrophy, Spinocerebellar Ataxia |
Gait deviations are nominally referred to as any variation of standard human gait, typically manifesting as a coping mechanism in response to an anatomical impairment. Lower-limb amputees are unable to maintain the characteristic walking patterns of an able-bodied individual due to the removal of some portion of the impaired leg. Without the anatomical structure and neuromechanical control of the removed leg segment, amputees must use alternative compensatory strategies to walk efficiently. Prosthetic limbs provide support to the user and more advanced models attempt to mimic the function of the missing anatomy, including biomechanically controlled ankle and knee joints. However, amputees still display quantifiable differences in many measures of ambulation when compared to able-bodied individuals. Several common observations are whole-body movements, slower and wider steps, shorter strides, and increased sway.