What causes "toddling gait" in adults?

[Amethyst]

I'm sorry you're still having issues and pain. I remember your saying the doctors warned you this might happen, due to the nature of your injury.

While it doesn't surprise me to learn that many people would prefer to accept an unusual gait rather than get hip surgery (I personally dread surgery), it is a contrast to many posts I've come across, by people who've had hip or knee surgery, and say everything is great now.

Parkinsons is an issue I hadn't thought of. It must take real courage for many of these folks to get up and go to the gym.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronc879 I just crossed the 8 month mark post hip replacement. I am still having pain and gait issues and i'm in my late 30's. Recovery would presumably be harder for an older person. I can see holding of on any major surgery for as long as possible. If they can modify their walk to reduce pain to a tolerable level then i'm in favor of it. No guarantee a hip replacement will end with a better result than they have now.

[aaronc879]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst I'm sorry you're still having issues and pain. I remember your saying the doctors warned you this might happen, due to the nature of your injury. While it doesn't surprise me to learn that many people would prefer to accept an unusual gait rather than get hip surgery (I personally dread surgery), it is a contrast to many posts I've come across, by people who've had hip or knee surgery, and say everything is great now. Parkinsons is an issue I hadn't thought of. It must take real courage for many of these folks to get up and go to the gym.

There is a very wide range of recovery possibilities from joint replacement. You could be pain free with no gait issues after 3 months or you could have chronic pain and/or need an assistive device forever or anywhere in between. I have recovered less than ideal but not as bad as many.

[Pellice]

That loss of flexibility in feet was new to me. I had never thought about feet being "flexible" nor how to lose that flexibilty or how to keep it. Is it just a question of periodically flexing one's feet?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack I was going to say fear of falling, but found this: 10 most common reasons seniors shuffle when they walk Weak hips and leg muscles Arthritis pain in joints Loss of flexibility in feet making it hard to flex them normally Decreased ability to maintain balance Decreased vision making it hard to see Fear because of a recent stumble or fall Slow reaction time when unbalanced which increases fear of falling Medication side effects Worn or poorly-fitting shoes or slippers Slippery floors I didn't include the link because it's riddled with pop-ups and ads. You're welcome.

[ckelly78z]

I'm proud of my purposeful stride, and make an (unconcious) effort to keep my feet pointed straight, and not side slapping like I see so many do.

6 years ago, I was driving through a county road intersection (doing 60 mph), and was hit by a drunk driver who was also doing 60+ on the passenger side of my Porsche 944. Needless to say, I lost that battle, and ended up with a shattered pelvis, ribs, foot, and sternum 17 breaks in all. I spent the next 5.5 months learning to walk again, along with having blood clots in both legs from inactivity, and was still limping when I went back to work. I decided that I wasn't going to look the part, and corrected my gate, so today, no one would ever suspect that I have a plate, with multiple pins in my hip.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckelly78z I'm proud of my purposeful stride, and make an (unconcious) effort to keep my feet pointed straight, and not side slapping like I see so many do. 6 years ago, I was driving through a county road intersection (doing 60 mph), and was hit by a drunk driver who was also doing 60+ on the passenger side of my Porsche 944. Needless to say, I lost that battle, and ended up with a shattered pelvis, ribs, foot, and sternum 17 breaks in all. I spent the next 5.5 months learning to walk again, along with having blood clots in both legs from inactivity, and was still limping when I went back to work. I decided that I wasn't going to look the part, and corrected my gate, so today, no one would ever suspect that I have a plate, with multiple pins in my hip.

Great to hear about your recovery. That must have been tough!

I'm 75 and had a hip replacement 10 years ago and two years ago tore both meniscuses in my right knee (surgery 6/2017). This month I am averaging about 9,000 walking steps per day and I have a normal stride. There is absolutely no problem with my gait. I plan to stay this way as long as I can and will do what it takes.

One of my ROMEO buddies shuffles when he walks. He is 70 and has many things wrong with him, including two knee replacements, "dropped toes" (whatever that is), diabetes, spinal issues, and he is very overweight. It's amazing how one can get into trouble, health wise, when they let themselves go for decades (like this guy did).

[ugeauxgirl]

Years ago I read (somewhere) that the reason older folks "shuffle" is that when you are younger, your brain and eyes are able to adjust your vision so that when you walk, your vision doesn't seem to "bounce." The older you get, the less that happens. So older folks tend to smooth their gait so that their head doesn't move as much when they walk, keeping their visual picture more stable.

[ransil]

There is a guy at work that does it, been doing it 10 years and he is maybe 55 if not younger.
I notice a lot of older women waddle.

[Lakewood90712]

Parkinson's . Although my dad went from normal walking, to falling down, to no mobility at all in about 60 days. Never went through the shuffle stage. What was explained to me is the body tries to use alternate brain areas to compensate for lost brain functions. Have a lot , both sides of the family tree.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pellice That loss of flexibility in feet was new to me. I had never thought about feet being "flexible" nor how to lose that flexibilty or how to keep it. Is it just a question of periodically flexing one's feet?

Yoga!

It quite actively involves the feet in various poses. And some interesting foot transition movements like tucking under toes and lifting up off the balls of the feet from kneeling into another position (downward dog), or pressing the tops of the feet into the floor and then rolling onto the balls of the feet from an upward dog or cobra pose to downward dog.

Not to mention yoga in general incorporating strength, balance, flexibility, breathing, etc.

Seriously, I started learning yoga at 40 figuring I would really need it as I got older, and now almost 20 years later I can see that I really do need it and need to be more disciplined about practicing yoga as post-menopause flexibity dropped quite suddenly.

[TromboneAl]

Here's the Parkinson's gait:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhj1PktNA1c

[Amethyst]

That's not what I've seen so far. No trembling, etc.

The gait I've observed is: bent over and peering (typical as we age and our eyesight fades), and rapid, tiny, yet firm steps. Actually it's surprising how fast some can move, which is why I thought of a toddler.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl Here's the Parkinson's gait: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhj1PktNA1c

[donheff]

I suspect people with a gait as pronounced as the video are suffering from a variety of the problems in Midpack's list. I think the upper torso forward tilt is common with hip and lower back arthritis. I am 70 and work out regularly, including about 100 miles of cycling a week in good weather but I have recently noticed a tendency to tilt forward. I have mild arthritis in my lower back and hips and my body instinctively moves to alleviate the discomfort even though it is very mild. I am doing exercise to increase flexibility and range of motion and make a concerted effort to stand straight. So far, so good. I will check back in at 80

[MRG]

There's a number of gait issues. I guess I feel fortunate to not know this. The example of Parkinson's is pretty close to how I see these folks having to walk.


https://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/the25/gait.html

Gait Abnormalities

There are eight basic pathological gaits that can be attributed to neurological conditions: hemiplegic, spastic diplegic, neuropathic, myopathic, Parkinsonian, choreiform, ataxic (cerebellar) and sensory. Observation of these gait are an important aspect of diagnosis that may provide information about several musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

[Alan]

My Dad's shuffling gait started in his mid 70's due to Peripheral Artery Disease caused by a lifetime of being a heavy smoker. He said his legs hurt a lot while walking and over time the poor blood flow led to ulceration.

He also became very hard of hearing but refused hearing aids. My sister lived next door to him and was his carer for the last few years of his life (he died at 84 of a burst aneurysm). One day she went into his house carrying a tray with his dinner to find him sat in his chair with his feet in a bowl of water and his leg dressings and ointments out ready. "What are doing?", asked my sister. "You said you would be in at 6 to do my gammy legs.", he replied. "I said I would bring you gammon and eggs at 6", she explained.

[iloveyoga]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Yoga! It quite actively involves the feet in various poses. And some interesting foot transition movements like tucking under toes and lifting up off the balls of the feet from kneeling into another position (downward dog), or pressing the tops of the feet into the floor and then rolling onto the balls of the feet from an upward dog or cobra pose to downward dog. Not to mention yoga in general incorporating strength, balance, flexibility, breathing, etc. Seriously, I started learning yoga at 40 figuring I would really need it as I got older, and now almost 20 years later I can see that I really do need it and need to be more disciplined about practicing yoga as post-menopause flexibity dropped quite suddenly.

+1 I love yoga!

[eytonxav]

Training that focuses on mobility to improve flexibility, range of motion, and joint/muscle strength should help a lot, although that is unlikely to overcome the effects of parkinsons and other neurological disorders, but it might help a lot.

[O2Bfree]

My mom, 89, walks as though she's stepping on slippery rocks to cross a stream, looking very tipsy and uncertain. She's always had poor balance and has taken numerous falls, many when she was much younger. She's banged her head four times, needing 4 and 15 stitches the last two times. Several doctors have recommended that she try some balance exercises or take Tai Chi classes or something of that sort. She saw a neurologist a few months ago and he pointed out that she had an odd gait. But she just lets it all roll off her, saying that they just like to give her a bad time about something, as though they're only teasing.

[garyt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 I see this a lot. I attribute it to lack of flexibility. I see folks walking rocking from side to side. I also see folks out walking with their torso pushed forward. It seems like lack of flexibility in hips and perhaps also lower back. Seems pretty common. At least they are out walking!!!

I agree. Loss of flexibility makes making a longer stride impossible, hence the short shuffle steps. I'm sure there are othe reasons, but in otherwise healthy seniors I'd say the vast majority is loss of flexibility.

[simple girl]

A shuffling, festinating gait pattern is often typical when individuals have Parkinson's. It's a motor control (neurological) issue.

Poor foot clearance can also be due to tight calves and weak dorsiflexors.

Wide based gait is often due to poor balance - multiple causes.

A gait which is waddling side to side is often due to hip weakness.

[jazz4cash]

OP specifically mentioned men (I think) so I'm wondering if any of the responses and likely symptoms are gender specific?