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Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology pp 1–2Cite as

Gait Disorders

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Synonyms

Abnormal walking; Walking problems

Definition

Gait disorders may be divided into structural and neurological problems. Some patients have both. Structural problems include arthritis and other degenerative joint diseases, muscle deconditioning, acquired impairments following knee or hip surgeries, back or spine problems, and other musculoskeletal disorders. These problems may lead to pain, stiffness, weakness, and numbness, which can all contribute to an abnormal walk. Obesity often makes structural problems worse. Neurological problems include Parkinson’s or other neurological diseases, impairments following stroke or other cerebrovascular incidents, and vision or inner ear problems that affect balance. Diabetes, which can lead to nerve damage, can cause sensory problems that contribute to gait disorders, while dementia and fear of falling can also be factors.

Certain medications have been linked to disordered gait and falls. The chief culprits are psychotropic medications,...

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References and Readings

  • Sudarsky, L. (2004). Gait disorders. In R. L. Watts & W. C. Koller (Eds.), Movement disorders (2nd ed., pp. 813–824). New York: McGraw-Hill.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Anna DePold Hohler

  2. William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, TX, USA

    Marcus Ponce de Leon

Authors
  1. Anna DePold Hohler
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  2. Marcus Ponce de Leon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna DePold Hohler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Richmond, Virgin Islands, USA

    Jeffrey Kreutzer

  2. Kessler Foundation , West Orange, New Jersey, USA

    John DeLuca

  3. Suite 200 , Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, USA

    Bruce Caplan

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Cite this entry

Hohler, A.D., de Leon, M.P. (2018). Gait Disorders. In: Kreutzer, J., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2_455-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56782-2_455-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56782-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56782-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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