What causes "toddling gait" in adults?

Amethyst

Amethyst

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We are on vacation in Florida, using a gym frequented by older people. I've observed several elderly men who walk with a toddling gait - little, tiny, quick steps. (Fortunately, unlike small toddlers, none of these men has fallen down while I was there to see!)

I'm quite certain none of them choose to walk that way; it is the best they can do, and at least they are on their own power and seem to have energy. But what causes this gait ? Hip trouble? In that case, wonder why they do not have hip replacements?

Not seeking to criticize, just medically curious.
 
A friend of our had it because of hip problems . He eventually had bilateral total hip replacements and it went away.Some people hate the idea of surgery and put it off until it has caused damage to other joints .
 
I would guess hip issues. If I've run a really long race and my hips are sore afterward, I'll walk somewhat like that.

Agree that some don't want surgery. My mom had one hip replacement that went well, but there was infection after the second one and I think it had to be redone 4 times, and she had a miserable year.
 
I was going to say fear of falling, but found this:

10 most common reasons seniors shuffle when they walk

  1. Weak hips and leg muscles
  2. Arthritis pain in joints
  3. Loss of flexibility in feet making it hard to flex them normally
  4. Decreased ability to maintain balance
  5. Decreased vision making it hard to see
  6. Fear because of a recent stumble or fall
  7. Slow reaction time when unbalanced which increases fear of falling
  8. Medication side effects
  9. Worn or poorly-fitting shoes or slippers
  10. Slippery floors
I didn't include the link because it's riddled with pop-ups and ads. You're welcome.
 
My DW has a "toddling" gait. It is caused by a degenerative neurological condition that affects balance and proprioception.

Not all medical problems are caused by visible issues. You will find young MS sufferers have a similar thing.
 
Was talking to a neurologist and he said he could diagnose problems by watching people walk through the mall. He said it got to be depressing after a while.
 
I see a couple of people who do something similar, not as pronounced as Tim. They also both walk with their arms outstretched. I thought it was Parkinsons?
 
One of the elderly members of our golf club walked like that, he had Parkinson's disease, unfortunately he's no longer able to play.
 
Parkinson’s, diabetic neuropathy-it’s hard to maintain balance when you barely feel your feet. Cataracts also-poor vision makes you more cautious.
 
Amethyst said:
We are on vacation in Florida, using a gym frequented by older people. I've observed several elderly men who walk with a toddling gait - little, tiny, quick steps. (Fortunately, unlike small toddlers, none of these men has fallen down while I was there to see!)

I'm quite certain none of them choose to walk that way; it is the best they can do, and at least they are on their own power and seem to have energy. But what causes this gait ? Hip trouble? In that case, wonder why they do not have hip replacements?

Not seeking to criticize, just medically curious.
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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!!!
 
My dad had Parkinson's and he walked that way. His perception was that he was taking big steps, so he was trying to compensate for that.
 
Midpack said:
I was going to say fear of falling, but found this:

10 most common reasons seniors shuffle when they walk

  1. Weak hips and leg muscles
  2. Arthritis pain in joints
  3. Loss of flexibility in feet making it hard to flex them normally
  4. Decreased ability to maintain balance
  5. Decreased vision making it hard to see
  6. Fear because of a recent stumble or fall
  7. Slow reaction time when unbalanced which increases fear of falling
  8. Medication side effects
  9. Worn or poorly-fitting shoes or slippers
  10. Slippery floors
I didn't include the link because it's riddled with pop-ups and ads. You're welcome.
Click to expand...
I think this is a great answer.

When I was a little girl and asked the many seniors that I knew about why they "walked funny" (among a billion other questions a 3 or 4 year old child might ask an elderly person), the answers I received were among those on the above list.

When I asked them why the veins on the back of their hands were so visible when I couldn't see the veins in MY hands, the answers were less consistent. :D
 
I can't say exactly why they do, but I will admit that reason "#10 Slippery floors" is the reason that I walk that way sometimes. I shuffle on glare ice, especially when it is not a flat surface. I don't shuffle at all under any other situations.
 
I remember, as a teen living in Florida with my parents, observing older people and frankly, getting scared of all the unpleasant things that seemed to happen to them all. Were these awful things going to happen to me, too?

One weird thing I noticed was that many older men walked bowlegged, with their legs wide apart. This was something I had never seen younger people do, except cowboys in western movies. I cautiously asked my Mother if "something hurts them in there" and she said no, they just let their bellies get too big.

W2R said:
When I was a little girl and asked the many seniors that I knew about why they "walked funny" (among a billion other questions a 3 or 4 year old child might ask an elderly person), the answers I received were among those on the above list.

D
Click to expand...
 
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.
 
Not the gait in ERD50's video, but shuffling. Spend a little time in an older community, and you'll see a lot of short steps. Many because of Parkinsons, probably more due to loss of strength or cautiousness.
One of the requirements of living in independent apartments in our community, requires that a person be able to be mobile. Wheelchair or walkers are ok, but falling injury or becoming unable to be able to get around independently, means moving to assisted living or rehab.

As to not getting a hip replacement... for most, that's usually the last choice. Enough of these as a ''result of a fall and broken hip". It's one thing at age 50, but different for most in their late 70's, 80's and 90's.
 
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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.

aaronc879 said:
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.
Click to expand...
 
Amethyst said:
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.
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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.
 
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?

Midpack said:
I was going to say fear of falling, but found this:

10 most common reasons seniors shuffle when they walk

  1. Weak hips and leg muscles
  2. Arthritis pain in joints
  3. Loss of flexibility in feet making it hard to flex them normally
  4. Decreased ability to maintain balance
  5. Decreased vision making it hard to see
  6. Fear because of a recent stumble or fall
  7. Slow reaction time when unbalanced which increases fear of falling
  8. Medication side effects
  9. Worn or poorly-fitting shoes or slippers
  10. Slippery floors
I didn't include the link because it's riddled with pop-ups and ads. You're welcome.
Click to expand...
 
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.
 
ckelly78z said:
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.
Click to expand...

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).
 
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