Walking abnormalities are unusual and uncontrollable walk patterns, usually  caused by diseases or injuries to the legs, feet, brain, spine, or inner ear.

Some walking abnormalities are so characteristic that they have been given descriptive names.

Causes of abnormal Gaits

• Trauma
• Foot problems (Pain, swelling, spasms)
• Fracture
• Hemophilia
• Immunization (soreness in the leg or buttocks)
• Legs that are different lengths
• Myositis
• Tight or uncomfortable shoes 
• Tendenitis
   

Propulsive Gait : A stooped, rigid posture, with the head and neck bent forward.

Causes of Propulsive Gait

1. Manganese poisoning
2. Parkinson's disease
3. Drugs including phenothiazines, haloperidol, metoclopramide
4. Carbon monoxide poisoning

Scissors Gait

Legs flexed slightly at the hips and knees, giving the appearance of crouching, with the knees and thighs hitting or crossing in a scissors-like movement.

• Causes of scissors gait
• Cerebrovascular accident 
• Cervical spondylosis with myelopathy 
• Liver failure
• Multiple sclerosis
• Pernicious anemia
• Spinal cord trauma
• Spinal cord tumor
   

Spastic Gait

A stiff, foot-dragging walk caused by one-sided, long-term, muscle contraction.
Causes of Spastic Gait

1. Brain tumor
2. Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
3. Head trauma
4. Multiple sclerosis
5. Brain abscess

 
Steppage Gait

Foot drop where the foot hangs with the toes pointing down, causing the toes to scrape the ground while walking.

Causes of Steppage gait

• Herniated lumbar disk
• Multiple sclerosis
• Peroneal muscle atrophy
• Proneal nerve trauma
• Poliomyelitis 
• Spinal cord trauma
   

Waddling Gait A distinctive duck-like walk that may appear in childhood or later in life.

Causes Waddling Gait

1. Muscular dystrophy
2. Spinal muscle atrophy
3. Congenital hip dysplasia