How common are gait abnormalities?
Having an abnormal gait is more common as you age. Approximately 15% of individuals experience a gait abnormality by age 60. And over 80% of those over 85 have a gait abnormality.
Minors are less likely to have an abnormal gait unless they experience an injury or have an underlying health condition.
If you fall under this age category, speak to your doctor to determine if you have an abnormal gait. The severe complications of gait abnormalities could include:
-Sudden inability to walk
-Increased risk of falls or injuries
-Reduction in ability to maintain independence
-Muscle weakness
-Pain
Do you have an abnormal gait? Speak to your doctor about a gait belt that may help. And please feel free to share your experiences with The Lasting Health in the comments section below.
And if you found this article interesting, we highly recommend you also read: 10 Miraculous Disease-Fighting Foods You’re Missing Out On
I am surprised that your list of reasons for gait abnormalities did not include normal pressure hydrocephalus. I started involuntarily shuffling my feet and had diminished stride In my early seventies. When I took Anatomy and Physiology in college, the instructor told us that some people with brain injuries could not stride more than 12 inches when walking. In addition to stride changes, I found it increasingly difficult to organize and reason. I couldn’t put together a report for my work. A CT scan revealed a significantly enlarged third ventricle. I had an ETV performed by image-guided surgery to form a drainage path through scar tissue that blocked the flow of CNS in my third ventricle at OHSU in Portland. I got immediate relief and have no gait or mental confusion symptoms for the last 10 years.